Portfolio > HIGH HORSE

HIGH HORSE
Special Exhibitions Gallery, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
April 2011
Peter Miller Gallery, Chicago, IL
Summer 2011

I play with and exploit American female cultural stereotypes in my work, such as the Midwestern cowgirl, and the pageant queen. One seems more natural or “authentic”, while the other artificial and manufactured. The tension that is created from overlaying these types of characters mimics an inner struggle for feminine identity. There is even ironic cross-pollination among the stereotypes, examples being the ‘spangled’ rodeo queen, or the parading child pageant contestant that invokes the sense she is the human equivalent of a show pony.

Accompanying my characters are elements of extravagant décor, disorienting lighting and color. I incorporate this type of enhanced space to parallel the spectacle of the enhanced body. This blended with parading horses ushers in a magical place that is almost storybook like. I believe adult feminine ideals are rooted very much in early exposure to fairytales and animated movies, and that these ideas are carried into adulthood.

In dissecting and critiquing the pursuit of a superficial beauty and equating it to making a spectacle of oneself atop a high horse, I cannot escape the draw of the fabricated appearance and I sympathize with its motives of personal pleasure and visual identity.

Full Rein
Oil, Acrylic, and Metallic Flake on Canvas
82” x 110”
2011
Full Rein [detail]
82” x 110”
2011
High Horse [detail]
Oil, Acrylic, and Airbrush on Canvas
82” x 110"
2011
Barrel Racers
Oil, Acrylic, and Molding Paste on Canvas
72” x 108”
2011
Barrel Racers [detail]
Oil, Acrylic, and Molding Paste on Canvas
72” x 108”
2011
Rodeo Princess
House Paint and Oil on Canvas
82” x 55”
2011
Hug Me Jungle
Oil, Acrylic, Airbrush, and Molding Paste on Canvas
54” x 144”
2011
Gown
Oil, Acrylic, and Airbrush on Canvas
82” x 55”
2011
Gown [detail]
Oil, Acrylic, and Airbrush on Canvas
82” x 55”
2011
Bouquets
Oil on Canvas
82” x 55”
2010
Bouquets [detail]
Oil on Canvas
82” x 55”
2010
Chandeliers
Oil, Acrylic, and Airbrush on Canvas
82” x 55”
2011
Special Exhibitions Gallery
Indiana University-Bloomington, IN
2011
Peter Miller Gallery
Chicago, IL
2011
Teen Queens
Digital collage
2011
High Horse II
Digital Painting and Collage
2011
Rider
Digital Collage
2011
Ceremonious
Digital Collage
2010
Rodeo Queen
Digital Collage
2011