Holly Roberts: No Blue Sky

Holly Roberts: No Blue Sky January 11 — March 8, 2008

In 2003, Holly Roberts took a hiatus from art making after more than twenty years of working with the painted photograph. When she returned to the studio in 2004, her working method moved in a startling new direction. Narrative scenes appeared on top of her painted surfaces -- a reversal of her previous approach, for which she has garnered tremendous success.

These changes can also be seen in her newest narratives. Where earlier pieces reflected psychological or emotional undercurrents, newer works make use of familiar or iconic stories to address tougher questions about man's effect on the land and the animals that inhabit it. This can be seen in a number of pieces including River Styx, in which a man stands on a boat made of cracked mud sailing on a dry river bed of pine needles, a lone bird perched on a wooden sail; Bird with Nest, in which a roosting bird sits in a concrete graffitied nest sandwiched between barren tree limbs; and Cow Grazing, in which a cow's innards reveal the arid stricken landscape in which it resides.

What is apparent from viewing Roberts' latest work is that no matter how much she has changed, some things remain the same: an intrigue with the photo, a love of paint and a desire to state simple truths in an original way.

All pieces are unique gelatin silver prints with oil paint and range in size from 6 x 9" to 30 x 60".
All pieces are sold framed and range from $1500 - $8000 depending on size.

Please call: (312) 266-2350 for prices of specific pieces.
Prices are print only unless otherwise indicated.