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By Jamie Hendrix-Chupa, Exhibition Interpreter and Content Manager
SOU Theatre Class of '27
| | Amir H. Fallah in his studio. | | |
In his work, Iranian-American artist Amir H. Fallah connects his experience as an immigrant with an intricate and alluring painting style in hopes of getting people to resonate with each other as human beings. In the Entry Gallery at the Schneider, two prints of his are on display: Mystery and Cosmic Storm, which are both part of the permanent collection. Fallah’s work focuses on the realm of expression, how we as people surround ourselves, and the environments that tell the story of our existence. In his portraiture, the subjects’ faces are always covered, both in reference to the Muslim custom of covering one’s face but also to neutralize the identity of his subjects. This creates an anonymity that stops us as viewers from profiling or assuming anything about the subject besides what surrounds them. Fallah has stated that at first his work was not politically driven, but after the 2016 election of Donald Trump, he shifted focus to art that inspires empathetic political discussion. The style is inspired by Iranian art and architecture that Fallah was surrounded by in his youth, which is a style that uses ornamental and very detailed patterned work. The tiny aspects become a beautiful whole, as in Fallah’s paintings, where there are always more details to explore. Read an interview with Amir Fallah from Juxtapoz Magazine at the link below, and be sure to check out his prints, now on view in the Entry Gallery.
https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/magazine/features/amir-h-fallah-art-and-intervention/
| | Lauren Luloff, Wildflowers (Cartwheel), 2024, dyed silk | | |
Artist Lauren Luloff has a unique style of painting. Using silk fabric and dye, she creates innovative mixed media paintings that range from watercolor-esque to vibrant and hard-edged. Luloff’s silk dyeing technique uses a complex process of dyeing, drying, stretching, and setting to lock the bright colors in place. It was a technique she learned from her fellow artist; after attempting to paint by dyeing silk for the first time, Luloff learned that the silk would wrinkle if it was not dried in the correct setup. This led her to reach out to another textile artist in order to learn how to properly dry dyed silk, which is what formed her current artistic style as we see it today. Four of her pieces are on view at the Schneider in Heiter Gallery as a part of Jason Stopa’s curated show, “Angel of History”. Though not all of her work focuses on landscapes and nature, the works on view all depict florals and foliage, a reflection of Lauren Luloff’s time spent staying on the East Coast. On this visit, she chose to immerse herself in nature and be inspired by the shapes found in flowers, trees, rivers, and hills. Previously, she had been in a major metropolitan area, and her paintings from around that time are very gridlike and geometric. Both of these elements are found in the works on view at the Schneider, as Luloff tends to combine natural and manmade elements of inspiration in her artwork. Learn more about Lauren Luloff and her artistic process in this interview below from Hamptons Art Hub, and visit the Schneider Museum of Art to see some of her works on view!
https://hamptonsarthub.com/2017/07/22/artists-portfolio-lauren-luloff-on-creating-paintings-without-canvas-primer-and-paint/
| | Yoshitomo Nara with his works The Little Ambassador, 2000, acrylic on canvas, and Pale Mountain Dog, 2000, acrylic on canvas | | |
Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara is widely regarded as a Pop artist, although he has been known to avoid labeling his style. Nara's pieces often feature little cartoon girls with huge heads and pouty expressions, who, despite their age, are found to be relatable to adults who appreciate his work. These are known as Nara's "big-headed girls", an artistic motif that has continued throughout his career. Some folks have interpreted Nara to be a feminist commentator or intentional subverter of cultures; yet in interviews, the artist is quite humble. He cites himself to be anti-war, anti-establishment, and anti-authoritarian, citing these views as an influence on his work. He does not consider politics to be the most important part of his artwork, though. It is mainly important to Nara that his work reaches the individual, regardless of political opinion. He has stated that his biggest inspirations are his childhood home with its abundance of apple trees and the music he listened to throughout his youth. Considering this, his work is undeniably human. Currently on view at the Schneider in the Entry Gallery is Round-Eyed Head (2024), a large-scale sculpture that is a part of Nara's continual series of sculptural heads. Recently shown at the museum was Nara's Lucy (2024), another "big-headed girl". Round-Eyed Head has a certain manual quality about its design, the eyes having been scraped out by hand as if a lack of tools drove the artist to carve it using the tools we have been given by nature. Check out Nara's website to find interviews with the artist and learn more about his work!
https://www.yoshitomonara.com/en
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