Breanna Gordon

Artist Statement

My painting practice navigates the theme of anxiety through two distinct yet interconnected pathways. Drawing inspiration from historical European painting, I fuse the dramatic intensity of the Italian Baroque with the ethereality of the Pre-Raphaelites. This synthesis results in compositions that blur the boundaries between waking reality and a dreamlike state.

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Addressing concepts of empathy, liminality, and the passage of time, my work visually articulates the pervasive nature of anxiety through densely layered compositions where figures are enmeshed within intricate patterns. These patterned elements explore anxiety as an intangible, all-consuming force.

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In my collection of "Darker Works," I delve into anxiety as a silent parasite that subtly dictates our experience of the world. These more somber compositions consider the profound impact of underlying anxiety on the human condition within the current global landscape. The ambiguous moments of contemplation I capture – depicting friends, family, and myself – invite viewers to engage in their own self-reflection. The creation of these paintings has evolved into a personal ritual, a formula through which I extract fragments from personal daily dialogue, stripping them of their original context to uncover shared sources of anxiety.