Two great new shows from Stephanie Chefas Projects. Lisa Congdon's Lucky Charms and Ryan Whelan's Why Am I Crawling In This Dirt? are taking up residence in the Portland, OR gallery space starting on August 3rd. The shows feature a number of vibrant paintings done in Congdon's illustrative and vibrant style, and Whelan's painted musings on the world of agriculture.
Known for her vibrant color palette and distinctive hand lettering, Lisa Congdon demonstrates a mastery over color and technique, fusing influences from the respective realms of folk art and illustration. In 'Lucky Charms', Lisa charters a personal iconography, which combines years of self-exploration with a spectrum of cultural symbolism. In addition to 22 new paintings (of various sizes), Lisa's painted wood houses that were on display for her Fullerton Exhibit will be on view and for sale.
Ryan Whelan strives to achieve strong contradictions in his work no matter the subject - ordinary becomes magical, simple turns complex, imperfection becomes perfection. In 'Why Am I Crawling in This Dirt?', Ryan explores the romanticized world of agriculture from the perspective of a city boy, only to undermine his own heightened musings with stark revelations.
