Med Lori Nelsons signaturstil blandes magisk realisme med illustration fra historiebøger.
Den amerikanske maler udforsker den mystiske, skræmmende og utvivlsomt magiske verden af teenagere.
Hendes malerier viser uhyrlige tweens og teenagere, der på overfladen ikke ligner almindelige unge. Nelsons "kryptotweens" vandrer gennem mørke skove sammen med dyrearter; de er dækket af pels og ser ud til at udnytte deres kræfter gennem deres smartphones.
Nelson siger om sine små monstre: "Jeg er tiltrukket af unge som emner, fordi de i meget kort tid er nødt til at bo i et land, der hverken er barndom eller voksenalder, men snarere en tornet skov, som alle skal snuble gennem. Skove, som, vi alle ved, kan være ret magiske, selvom de også er farlige og uhyggelige. I sit nylige arbejde stræber hun efter at vise mine menneskelige og semi-menneskelige emner med 'Cryptotweens' i et konkret øjeblik, hvor de indtager dette mellemsted, mens de på én gang er sårbare og alligevel også oplever magt for første gang.
Mange af 'Cryptotweens' bærer ekstatiske udtryk i deres ansigter, der minder om det uskyldige og hellige ved traditionel religiøs kunst, når et slør er løftet, og viden og guddommelig kraft afsløret.
Det er dette dobbelte aspekt af uskyld og viden, der for Lori definerer tween og teen-hood – med et ønske om at fange det flygtige øjeblik før barnet kommer ud af skoven, og virkeligheden og selvbevidstheden sætter ind.
På trods af deres fremmede udseende viser Nelsons teenagere en ægte menneskelighed. De kæmper med følelsen af at føle sig udenfor, mødet med deres første romantiske kærlighed og øjeblikke med selvbevidsthed midt i deres skiftende miljø. Når disse teenagere forsøger at navigere på det mærkelige sted mellem deres uskyldige barndom og virkeligheden i voksenalderen, minder deres oplevelser os om, hvad vi alle engang har følt: fanget mellem to verdener på randen af uundgåelig og afgørende transformation.
Det mest bemærkelsesværdige ved hendes kunst er dog det liv, hun giver miljøerne; hvert træ, græsstrå og håndholdt enhed ser ud til at have udviklet sin egen personlighed.
UDDANNELSE
b. Ft. Collins, Colorado
1993 Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Utah
1987-1989 Colegio Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain
Director of Artists in Residence at Governors Island, NYC, 4heads.org
UDVALGTE UDSTILLINGER
2021
Dreambags and Jaguar Shoes, Kirk Gallery, Denmark
2020
Mini Solo Exhibition: Corey Helford Gallery, LA
2019
Solo Exhibitor at Portal: Governors Island, NYC
Secret Self solo exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco
2018
Ephemeral (curated by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine), Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco
Summerfriends, Three-person show, Forage Space, Narrowsburg, NY
The Molskine Project, Spoke Art, NYC
Littletopia/LA Art Show featured artist with Red Truck Gallery of New Orleans
Music Box III Group Exhibition at Haven Gallery, North Port, NY
Sol Invictus: Interregnum Group Exhibition at Green Kill Gallery, Kingston, NY
2017
Flower Child Group Exhibition, Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco
Fruition Trekell Curated Group Show at Artists Republic Gallery, Anaheim, CA
Group Exhibition at Red Truck Gallery, New Orleans
Hearts Blood: Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Curated Show at Haven Gallery, Long Island, NY
Loved to Death Group Exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco
Cryptotweens, Find My Friends, Solo Exhibition, Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles
2016
Wanderlust Group Exhibition, Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco
The Polygon Project, Curated by Laura Kennedy, Sidespace Gallery, Tasmania, Australia
#Cryptotweens, 4heads Governors Island Art Fair, NYC
Crime on Canvas Group Exhibition at Life is Beautiful Festival, Curated by Jessicka Addams and Jay Nailor, Las Vegas
Corey Helford Gallery 10th Anniversary Group Exhibition, LA
Cryptotweens Are Like, Solo Exhibition, Corey Helford Gallery, LA
2015
Dark Alice, Alice and Beanstalks Gallery, Tokyo
Magica Sexualis, Stephen Romano Gallery, Brooklyn
Scope Art Fair, Miami, with Aha Gallery, NYC
Holiday Exhibition, Phillips Gallery, Salt Lake City, Utah
Coming of Age, solo exhibition, Cotton Candy Machine, Brooklyn
Tiny Trifecta curated by Tara McPherson for the Cotton Candy Machine, Brooklyn
Art Collectors Starter Kit Group exhibit at Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles
Dreamlands Group exhibit curated by Caro Buerman for Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles
Delusion Animals group exhibit curated by Tokyo Jesus and Eimi Takano for Alice and Beanstalks Gallery, Tokyo
Storybook group exhibit curated by Michael Cuffe for Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco
2014
Salonukah! group exhibit curated by Anthony Tino for Endless Editions at Trestle Gallery, Brooklyn
Beasticon: Monstrous Art by Uncaged Creatures curated by Lori Nelson and Antony Zito, Mark Miller Gallery, NYC
Scope Art Fair, Miami with AHA Gallery, Miami
Small Wonders at Arch Enemy Arts, Philidelphia
Halloween Show at Auguste Clown Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
Live Painting at New York Comic Con with Tara McPherson, Tina Lugo, Hikari Shimoda, So Youn Lee with Cotton Candy Machine, NYC
Distortion, curated by Evan Venegas, Luna Rienne Gallery, San Francisco
Tiny Trifecta, curated by Tara McPherson, Cotton Candy Machine, Brooklyn, NY
That Which Does Not Kill You, three-person show with Jessicka Addams and Lindsey Way, Cotton Candy Machine, Brooklyn, NY
Scope Art Fair, Miami, with Arcilesi/Homberg Fine Art, NYC
Du weißt, ich liebe das Leben, curated by Jonny Star, Berlin/NYC
2013
Beasticon, Co-curated with Antony Zito for Mark Miller Gallery, Lower East Side, NYC,
Scope Art Fair, Miami, with Arcilesi/Homberg Fine Art, Dumbo, Brooklyn, NY
Salonukah, Gallery Artists Exhibition, Recession Arts, Brooklyn, NY
Face Time, Portraiture Now, Group Exhibition, Ground Floor Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Ransom, Group Exhibition, Brooklyn Wayfarers, Bushwick, NY
Bigger: Not Always Better, Gallery Artists Exhibition, Arcilesi/Homberg Fine Art, Dumbo, Brooklyn, NY
Reflections and Recollections, Group Exhibition, Rabbithole Gallery, Dumbo, Brooklyn, NY
Enlightenment, Group Exhibition, Outlet Gallery, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
Tiny Trifecta, Group Exhibition curated by Tara McPherson, Cotton Candy Machine, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Next Generation, Solo Exhibition with Ground Floor Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Exhibiting artist with Recession Art, Brooklyn, NY
Scope Art Fair, NYC with Arcilessi Homberg Gallery, NYC
Fountain Art Fair, NYC with Arcilessi Homberg Gallery, NYC
Playtime, Invited artist, with Urban Arts & Media Organisation, Munich, Germany
Postcards From the Edge, participant, with Visual Aids, Chelsea NY
Stuck, Pop-up group exhibition with AHA Gallery, Chelsea, NY
2012
Fountain Art Fair, with AHA Gallery, Miami
Bengenhungen no. 9, exhibiting artist, Chemnitz, Germany
Coverage, Solo Exhibition, AHA Gallery, DUMBO, Brooklyn
Solo Exhibition, Phillips Gallery, Salt Lake City
Residency: Governors Island, The Four Heads, NYC
Recess, DUMBO, FAFA Gallery
Artists Residency, Governors Island, NYC with 4Heads
Dual Exhibition, Phillips Gallery, Salt Lake City
Capital Offense, Beacon Arts, Los Angeles
Fountain Art Fair, NYC, Francesca Arcilessi Fine Art
Wanna Piece?, NYC, Francesca Arcilessi Fine Art
In the End a Good Story Is All That Remains, curated by NY art critic Ed Rubin for Fran Hill Gallery, Toronto
2011
Fountain Art Fair, Francesca Arcilessi Fine Art, Miami
Occupy the Walls, A/C Institute, curated by Jeff Wright, Holly Anderson, NYC
How Are You!?, public art project with The Work Office and Times Square Alliance
Govenors Island Art Fair, 4Heads, selected installation artist
Take Me Home, Francesca Arcilessi Fine Art, NYC
Chat Room, Group Exhibit, BRIC Arts, Brooklyn
2010
15 Citizens in 30 Days, Solo Project in conjunction with Phillips Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT
The Work Office, Group Exhibit, Lower Manhattan, NYC
Point, Group Exhibit curated by Radar Curatorial, Sweet Lorraine Gallery, Red Hook, Brooklyn
Works Progress, Featured Artist, Recession Arts, NYC
My Favorite Heartbreak, Solo Exhibit, Urban Alchemist, Brooklyn, NY
2009
Red Dot, Miami with Francesca Arcilesi Fine Art, NYC
Two-Person exhibit, Phillips Gallery, Salt Lake City, Utah
300 Plates Invitational, VSA Gallery, Salt Lake City
No Money, No Problems, Recession Arts, Brooklyn
Be a Doll, Group Exhibit, Estel Gallery, Nashville, TN
Urban Gardens, Broadway Gallery, NYC
2008
Failure, Group Exhibit, The Lab at Belmar, Denver, CO
Small Works, Washington Sq. E. Galleries, NYC
2007
Solo Exhibit, Phillips Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT
Small Works, Curated by Jim Kempner, Washington Sq. East Galleries, NYC
2006
Far From Home, Group Exhibit, Brooklyn Artists’ Gym, Brooklyn
Brooklyn 3rd Wave, Group Exhibit, Brooklyn Arts Council, Brooklyn
Juxtaposition I, Group Exhibit, Berkley Art Center, Denver, CO
New American Talent, Group Exhibit, Curated by Aimee Chang, Arthouse Gallery, Austin, TX
Small Works, Group Exhibit, Curated by Jack Shainman, Washington Sq. East Galleries, NYC