Interiors & Identity- Mary Finlayson
Navigating the themes of intimacy, memory, and self, Mary Finlayson’s gouache paintings reflect the vulnerable narratives unveiled through ownership of possessions. JoAnne Artman Gallery is proud to announce Finlayson’s addition to the gallery’s roster, with works currently at JoAnne Artman’s Laguna Beach location. Flattening the perspective of each scene, her still lifes provide a voyeuristic glimpse in to each curated space. While showcasing a bold color palette and emphasis on texture, Mary Finlayson’s interest in painting interior spaces portrays how environments reveal identity.
Considering the personal attachments and importance of objects, Finlayson starts her process by flattening an interior modeled after a photograph or memory. She then skews the room’s objects and alters the colors with an unexpected,vivid palette. Paying homage to the iconic works of David Hockney, Henri Matisse, and Stuart Davis by borrowing similar bright color palettes, repetitive patterns and reduced, simplified forms, Finlayson creates complexly structured scenes in her own distinctive style.
Creating environments that are partly real and partly imagined, Finlayson’s ability to craft a story by way of her art is enigmatic. Considering interiors as portraits that contain their own narratives, her compositions explore the stories that each space tells about the people who inhabit them. Capturing the intimacy of the interior, each of her creations, her energetic lines evoke movement that helps enliven the otherwise stagnant settings.
Finding balance between form, color, and a narrow depth of field, Finlayson’s work prioritizes the feeling of the space over accuracy in order to effectively communicate the underlying identity of each interior.