CURRENT EXHIBITION
13 Portraits
by Elizabeth Wilson
Gallery Reception: Sunday, July 26 from 2-4 PM
Exhibition: July 17- August 2
Artist Statement
Humans are not the only cognitive species. By rendering animals—subjects typically relegated to either zoological “wildlife photography” or kitsch novelty calendars—in compositions commonly reserved for formal human portraiture, I celebrate the vibrancy and complexity of thoughtful life beyond humanity. Through a representational but exaggerated color palette, combined with a (sometimes!) larger than life scale, 13 Portraits draws attention to the unspoken dialogue with our non-human peers, and demands that we consider individual animals across all species to be unique and vibrant organisms with sizable cognitive capacities. Each portrait consists of light, scribbly layers of colored pencil placed with increasing refinement on each subsequent pass over the composition, employing hyper-saturated hues with relatively realistic values and loose but representational forms.
About Elizabeth Wilson
Elizabeth Wilson is a scientist-turned-artist with interests in the psychology and neuroscience of color. Initially trained as a cognitive psychologist researching the design of educational materials for healthcare patients, over the last fifteen years she has segued her focus to visual art while maintaining an interest in how elements of design, and especially color, impact us perceptually, cognitively, and emotionally. Over the past decade she has taught numerous courses including color theory for drawing, oil pastels, colored pencils, and pet portraiture at Chicagoland art institutions including Lillstreet Art Center and Evanston Art Center.
Leslie Wolfe Gallery
1763 N North Park Avenue
Chicago
312-337-1938
Reception: Sunday, July 26 2-4 PM
Exhibition: July 17- August 2
