Figures In Flux
November 30, 2024 - January 3, 2025
Opening: Saturday 30th of November 2024 4PM - 6PM
Artspace Warehouse is pleased to present Figures in Flux, an exhibition that explores the transformative nature of human and abstract forms. This showcase highlights the fluidity of the human form, exploring the tension between stability and change through dynamic compositions and shifting perspectives. Featuring works that blur the lines between reality and abstraction, Figures in Flux captures moments of transition, ambiguity, and the evolving nature of the human experience. Through experimental techniques and expressive interpretations, this exhibition invites viewers to witness the dynamic interplay between the known and the abstract, offering a captivating exploration of figures in perpetual motion.
Nigerian-Swiss artist Valerie Etitinwo creates abstract figurative paintings which celebrate the beauty of ugliness and awkwardness. Raised in dichotomous cultures, Etitinwo found art as a coping mechanism to interpret the world around her. Etitinwo’s artworks transcend each of her surrounding cultures to create work that is universally relatable through the celebration of imperfections. She creates her work with the conviction to push her creativity and expression to a level of intriguing “ugliness.” With each artwork she fights the temptation of “cuteness” to go beyond what is expected.
Etitinwo’s unique position of balancing Nigerian and Swiss influences has led her to deconstruct and challenge cultural stereotypes through her eye-catching compositions. Her figures embody the tension and harmony between different facets of identity and experience, highlighting the grace that emerges from awkwardness. Her art invites viewers to reflect on the ever-shifting nature of identity, resonating with the broader exploration of transformation.
“I like creating art that catches the eyes not because of how pretty it is but because of how imperfect it looks. I’m really not a perfectionist. I’m quite the opposite. I’m an “imperfectionist”. I like how disorganized some of my pieces are. I like using bold colors and awkward shapes to represent humans. I would say my favorite artistic movement is cubism. But my artwork is definitely not cubism. I just have an appreciation for its absurd shapes, especially in portraits. I like painting faces like masks."
Etitinwo’s artworks have been featured on major TV shows such as “Insecure” and “The Flight Attendant” on HBO and have been collected worldwide by prominent collectors ranging from influential executives to film producers.
Erin Hammond's artistic journey is one of self-discovery, artistic liberation, and unbridled passion. Born into a creative household in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Hammond pursued a bachelor's degree in Fine Art Painting, Sculpture, and Theatre from the University of Wisconsin. After relocating to Los Angeles to pursue her artistic aspirations, Hammond was named a top-rated artist in a prestigious art competition in the US, propelling her career to new heights. An art dealer in Beverly Hills was impressed by her unique style and within weeks, her art was being sold around the world. Her swift rise to success is a testament to her exceptional skill and creativity.
As an artist, Hammond draws inspiration from a broad collaboration of artists, including Edgar Degas, Kaethe Kollwitz, C.Y. Twombly, Rodin, and Stephen De Staebler, each with a distinct characteristic that she admires. Her style can be classified as emotionalism and romanticism with a contemporary streak.
Hammond's use of bold, gestural strokes and vibrant colors creates a sense of movement within her ethereal figures, capturing moments of emotional transition. She has an ability to balance realism with abstraction, bringing out the tension between stability and change. Her distinctive figurative paintings embody the exhibition's exploration of transformation and fluidity.
Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Hilary Bond received a BFA from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art and an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute.
The artist began painting models like Kate Moss in her exploration of the idealized body type in fashion. Citing Andy Warhol, Willem de Kooning, and Egon Schiele as influences, she creates bold depictions of strong women. Her layered color palette and black outlining emphasize female strength and assertiveness. Through these images of women, Bond explores contemporary femininity as well as the concept of the artists’ “muse” and how it relates to female identity and body-positive expression.
Bond’s vibrant, pop art-inspired portraits of iconic female figures challenge traditional ideals of femininity, capturing the evolving and fluid nature of identity. Bond's use of striking colors and exaggerated forms emphasize the tension between societal expectations and personal expression. Her work, which merges elements of street art and popular culture, encapsulates the idea of figures in constant flux, questioning and redefining their place in contemporary society.
Hilary Bond’s work has been exhibited throughout the United States in group and solo exhibitions. Her work has been featured on numerous prominent television shows.
