TERESA STANLEY
The work of Teresa Stanley embodies a unique fusion of scientific curiosity and artistic expression. Born in Los Angeles, her work delves into the intricate relationship between humanity and the natural world. After earning a B.A. in Studio Art from UC Santa Barbara, Teresa received an M.F.A. from U.C. Berkeley. Following a period of teaching at San Francisco State University, she ventured north to take a position at Cal Poly Humboldt, where the landscape of the rural North Coast of California profoundly influenced her work. Teresa's abstract, mixed-media works on panel and paper utilize acrylic, hand painted collage, ink, silkscreen, and graphite. Her compositions seamlessly blend elements of memory, concern for the environment, and a deep appreciation for the delicate balance between the self and nature. Her recent focus on plants serves as a poignant exploration of the tension between our artificial connection to the natural world and the harsh realities faced by these ecosystems. Teresa's work is currently represented by Bryant Street Gallery in Palo Alto, Blue Gallery in Kansas City, and LaFontsee Gallery in Grand Rapids. She has been the recipient of several grants and awards and her work has been featured in numerous publications, both in print and on line. Her art has garnered national attention and has found its place in diverse art collections both private and public. Her commitment to the intersection of art and environmental awareness continues to shape her creative endeavors.
“Informed by a deep-seated concern for the environment, my recent work revolves around the relationship between humans and the natural world. Using imagery inspired by my dormant winter garden, I depict ghostly plant forms surrounded by architectural elements and other manmade ephemera and detritus.
Plants, with their ability to adapt to a rapidly shifting environment, embody both beauty and resilience. Humans, once depicted at being at the center of the world, increasingly realize that they are wholly dependent on the natural world for survival.
In all of my paintings, geometric shapes and objects prop up and support the plant forms. Hand drawn elements adhere to the forms as decoration. Will our faith in technology insulate us from the threats posed by global climate change? Do we imagine we can ‘fix’ our problems so that the natural environment we depend on will continue to sustain us? In the future, will we only experience nature via specimens collected in artificially constructed biospheres or as digitally fabricated environments? Or will nature, with its ability to adapt, survive our foolishness? These are some of the thoughts that circulate in my mind while working.
Preferring to work within the language of abstraction, my botanically inspired subjects drift between recognizable forms and patterns. Although abstract, my work is firmly rooted in the realm of things and ideas and is always connected to a sense of narrative content. My mixed media paintings utilize acrylic, hand painted collage, ink, colored pencil and graphite . A final layer of matte gel imparts a waxy appearance, much akin to the preservation of something precious.”
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