Ashley Anson, Hometown Heroes

March 6 - 28, 2015

One Grand Gallery is proud to present Hometown Heroes, a solo exhibition by local artist Ashley Anson. One Grand Gallery patrons will recognize Anson from her contributions to several of our group shows in 2014, and this March we are excited to be showcasing her latest works.

Ashley Anson was raised in Montana and studied painting and textiles at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She now lives and works in Portland, Oregon. Gender roles within art are a focus in her work. A question she often asks is “What makes a painting have male or female attributes?” and “Can you sense an artists gender in their art?” Her paintings combine the traditionally male dominated practice of painting, with the inherently feminine mediums of embroidery and textiles.

Violence and gore play also pay a key role in her subject matter, taking inspiration from reality television shows such as COPS and publications such as Busted magazine, where criminals and deviants are celebrated. Placing these violent and disturbing scenes on floral fabrics with embroidered blood and bodily fluids creates an interesting juxtaposition of stereotypical male/female visual quest. This imagery shines a deceptively innocuous light on society and walks the line between startling realism and witty hyperbole. Her carefully crafted and dynamic artwork, combined with striking sociopolitical commentary, make Anson a quintessential addition to One Grand’s roster.

We invite you to take a journey passed the prison cells, down the rabbit hole, and into the folklore land of Ashley Anson’s Hometown Heroes.



@slashlee

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