Ornamental Figure: The language of embellishment and the historic idea of the female figure as decoration

2223 Market Street | San Francisco
Art on display November 4 thru January 4, 2007
Hours: 5:30-9:30pm Sun-Thurs, 5:30 – 11:00pm Fri-Sat

ABOUT THE ARTIST AND THIS EXHIBITION:
During my architectural and design studies, I became fascinated with ornament and patterns. My interests lie with how ornamentation has been traditionally applied to objects to enhance their beauty. The stylized depiction of the female form has also often been used as ornamentation.

In these paintings, I incorporate images of classical female nudes with antique textile patterns. The contours of the human figure interact with the lines that form the pattern, reducing the depiction of the figure to the level of the ornament. I then superimpose these linear, graphic representations upon richly layered ornate foundations. I embed in the paintings materials used for decoration, such as flowers, vintage cigarette cards, printed papers, and henna patterns, and decorative techniques such as stenciling and gilding. Through the union of images, materials and techniques, I seek to create works of sensual beauty, and to explore the language of embellishment and the historic idea of the female figure as decoration.

For more information about this artist or exhibition, please contact ARTworkSF Gallery
http://www.artworksf.com | 415.673.3080