I’ve been following Lily Stockman for some time, at bigBANG studio. A young but wildly accomplished artist, she moved to India last year. Funded by a grant, she’s been painting pictures of India’s grain silos.
I know.
Her new show opens in Delhi this Friday. She is exhibiting along with three other American artists, Carrie Fonder, Rebecca Layton and Jenny Mullins. Here are two of the new pieces.
Agreed, her work is pretty. Pretty but at the same time, somehow, sad about happiness and bravely waving at meaning. Often the meaning of archetypal structures.
I never really understand how art works, or how to talk about it. But I see that Lily’s latest work has grown more conceptual, more political, and thereby just that little bit less pretty. Or, to put it more precisely, this pretty takes a sharper edge. I find the juxtaposition of coral, salmon, and the bullet shape of silos against the outline of Mughal arches, to be quite brilliant.
No fools they, the Times of India did a feature on the show, which you can read here.
Much of Lily’s previous work, seen in her portfolio, here, has sold. Unsurprisingly. But a few pieces remain. A few gorgeous pieces. She has, it appears, often painted structures. This, from her Westward Ho series, comprised of small to mid-sized oils of houses – in the midst of Western space and light.
This, from the series called Mojave.
And finally, this, from Weed Eaters. Lily can write, too. Here’s the backstory to the horse.
These images are quite possessing me, for the moment. I do not know when I will shake them.
This post, I wanted to note, followed more closely than usual upon the similar post about Brigitte Carnochan. That’s purely accidental. I may not discover another artist who sets my sensibilities a-tingle for months. I’m picky. Art’s hard, and personal. That said, now is a good time to remind you that until March 31, Gitta’s donating 25% of the proceeds from her photo sales at Verve Gallery to Save The Children’s Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Fund.
19 Responses
I so enjoyed this post and will now follow this incredible artist. Have learned so much and feel enriched.
Marsha
Lily is the BEST ONE.
i need more art. painted art in particular.
These are lovely Lisa. I really loved the two images of the houses! So nice to see you writing about art {when it moves you}. And such a bright visual to perk up my otherwise rainy morning.
xo Mary Jo
What’s the saying? “I don’t know art, but I know what I like.”
I like these. Very much.
interesting images, I like them – partic the Mojave house.
I looked at this pictures many times today before I read the text. I’m a little disappointed that the top 2 are grain silos. They are still gorgeous, but in my head they were fuel tank farms. I really liked them as tank farms b/c for some unknown reason I like tank farms.
Visually grain silos and tank farms are similar; I find it interesting that I’m disappointed by the more benign images.
Regardless, the color and movement in the pictures are spectacular. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks sharing this artist with us. I am not much of an art person myself. I mean, I can appreciate beauty in art forms, but I am not very well versed in “art talk.” Having said that, her work is brilliantly simple and, at the same time, quite forceful.I love it!
I found your site whilst visiting Tish at A Femme dUn Certain Age and am hooked. The art is powerful simple! Love it.
“Art’s hard, and personal.”
Couldn’t agree more.
The images of the house are really striking. Very painterly. And yes funny how pink can be sad…
Thank you for introducing us to Lily, I have been reading the post over at bigBANG and looking at the installation. The color palettes are beautiful, very much what I like, her talent for subject matter is also appealing. Now I’m off to visit her site, heaven help me!
With a smile at you,
tp
They’re beautiful! That pink is so vibrant. I love it xx
These don’t move me in any way, and I’m not sure why. Usually I can find emotional connection somewhere in at least one piece of a collection. I’ve challenged myself to look more deeply. Always on the hunt for opportunities to improve my vision, so to speak.
Marsha – Thank you so much.
Amanda – Yes. She is.
cevd – The world does.
Mary Jo – So glad you liked these.
Jan – Hey! And she’s very well priced, IMO.
Blighty – :).
Emmaleigh – This is one of the great comments ever. Tank farms. I love the world.
Jessica – So happy you enjoyed it.
Debra – Thank you, and thank you for coming over.
Buckeroomama – Thank you.
Jody – I love the way the paint drips.
TPP – She’s quite reasonable, as art at this level goes.
Christina – :)
Laura – I think at the end, art is still always personal. Some things just don’t speak to everyone.
It is difficult to talk about art, yet you do it so well. I look forward to more art posts and being introduced to more artists.
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