wendyll brown

artist statement
My work is a vigorous pursuit of balance between the states of chaos and order that alternate and overlap in our lives. I find inspiration in the logic of nature and the metaphors of poetry. Drawing from my own words and those of other poets, I translate evocative passages onto the canvas.

My paintings express conflicting ideas in everyday materials -- salvaged wood and metal, fabrics, old clothes, letters, maps, and text. From these seemingly random collections of scraps, I overload the surface with an excess of materials. Then I meticulously refine them, tearing, sewing, and gluing seemingly disparate pieces together in a laborious exploration.

Every creative decision is documented transparently in my finished work. What is left behind on the scarred surface is as important as what was removed. Paint is layered and then scratched away to show the passage of time and the thought that lies beneath the surface. To me, what is most interesting in life is not immediately obvious, but is only uncovered after a closer look.