Grace Emerson

Bio 

Grace Emerson was born and raised in Cobourg, Ontario and currently resides in downtown Toronto.  She is a fourth year drawing and painting student at OCAD University, working towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts.  She is primarily an acrylic painter, who often incorporates other mediums into her paintings such as plant matter and collage elements. Her work addresses the themes of body image, the natural world, femininity, memory, desire, and protecting the environment. Her work is bright and colorful, and embraces chaos.

Artist Statement

I work primarily with acrylic paint, and enjoy including elements that are collage based or sculptural into my work.  Other mediums I include in my paintings are flowers, leaves, sticks, rocks, dirt, dryer lint, hair, glitter, and gloss.  I started as a landscape painter, but at this point in my artistic career I am making large chaotic abstract paintings and installations.  I would describe my artistic style as a blend between abstraction and impressionism.  The artists that are the most influential to my practice are Katharina Grosse and Claude Monet.  I find that when I am painting my whole body is engaged, and my mind is clear.  I have always found peace in nature, and this is carried on into my work.  I grew up in a very rural setting where I never really felt I belonged, and moved to Toronto to attend OCAD.  The shift from country to city is a major influence on my practice. Other themes I address within my work are: the natural world, queer theory, body image, the environment, memory, desire, and family.