Alice Denison
Alice Denison paints floral blossoms as if they were the only subject in the world and, accordingly, she imbues their depictions with the psychological weight and emotional space of portraiture. These are not, however, still lives because they are very much not still. Her blossoms cascade and cluster in roiling painterly space; experiencing the crisscrossing gravities is part of the fun. Denison minimizes her use of the illusionistic devices that persuade us an image is really there, paring her rendering until the illusion is on the brink of collapse.
Denison continued her exploration of flowers by merging still life with pattern painting in her “Mixed Meta” series. Some paintings depict a large pitcher or urn floating in the center covered by densely layered flora and filigree. The vessel is the focus with the flowers in the supporting roles. Each painting is focused on a particular color story that’s been predetermined by Denison.
Alice Denison’s “Pangloss” paintings explode with energy and extravagance. Ornately rendered plants and flowers, floating on top of darker backgrounds as if they were sewn into tapestries, appear otherworldly, with a dreamlike rendering unlike most grounded still lifes. While ostensibly decorative, the paintings reward prolonged inspection.
Denison received her MFA at Massachusetts College of Art at the Fine Arts Work Center, Providence in 2007 and was the Mass Cultural Council Painting Fellow Winner in 2018.
Strange Meadow IV, 2023, oil on linen, 52x50" Sold> Inquire Pangloss XXIX, 2023, oil on linen, 45x40"> Inquire Pangloss XXVIII, 2022, oil on linen, 72x78" Sold> Inquire Pangloss XXVII, 2022, oil on linen, 54x50" Sold> Inquire Pangloss XXIV, 2022, oil on linen, 60x50"> Inquire Pangloss XXIII, 2022, oil on linen, 48x48" Sold> Inquire Pangloss XXVI, 2022, oil on linen, 28x30" Sold> Inquire RP 3, 2021, oil on maple board, 30x30" Sold> Inquire RP I, 2020, oil on linen over maple board, 30x30" Sold> Inquire Pangloss XXV, 2022, oil on linen, 20x16" Sold> Inquire Panscape II, 2021, oil on linen, 26x32"> Inquire Panscape III, 2022, oil on linen, 40x50" Sold> Inquire Pangloss XXII, 2022, oil on linen, 52x48"> Inquire Pangloss XXI, 2021, oil on linen, 40x40" Sold> Inquire Pangloss XIX, 2021, oil on linen, 24x18" Sold> Inquire Convolvulus II, 2022, oil on linen, 20x20" Sold> Inquire Orb, 2021, oil on linen on canvas, 16" diameter Sold> Inquire Lay of the Land I, 2020, oil on canvas, 12x12" Sold> Inquire Pangloss XIV, 2019, oil on linen, 40x44" Sold> Inquire Pangloss XVI, 2019, oil on linen, 58x58" Sold> Inquire Pangloss XVIII, 2019, oil on linen, 54x50" Sold> Inquire Pangloss XVII, 2019, oil on linen, 54x50" Sold> Inquire Pangloss XV, 2019, oil on linen, 68x44"> Inquire Pangloss XIII, 2018, oil on linen, 34x32" Sold> Inquire Pangloss IX, 2018, oil on linen, 30x28" Sold> Inquire Pangloss X, 2018, oil on linen, 34x32" Sold> Inquire Pangloss XI, 2018, oil on linen, 58x45"> Inquire Pangloss II, 2018, oil on linen, 60x58" Sold> Inquire Pangloss III, 2018, oil on linen, 22x20" Sold> Inquire Posy Riot, 2017, oil on linen, 54x50"> Inquire Mixed Meta V, 2014, acrylic and oil on panel, 60x48"> Inquire Mixed Meta VIII, 2014, acrylic and oil on canvas, 60x48" Sold> Inquire Mixed Meta VII, 2014, acrylic and oil on panel, 60x48"> Inquire Mixed Meta VI, 2014, acrylic and oil on panel, 60x48"> Inquire Mixed Meta III, 2013, acrylic and oil on panel, 48x36" Sold> Inquire
Alice Denison
Alice Denison paints floral blossoms as if they were the only subject in the world and, accordingly, she imbues their depictions with the psychological weight and emotional space of portraiture. These are not, however, still lives because they are very much not still. Her blossoms cascade and cluster in roiling painterly space; experiencing the crisscrossing gravities is part of the fun. Denison minimizes her use of the illusionistic devices that persuade us an image is really there, paring her rendering until the illusion is on the brink of collapse.
Denison continued her exploration of flowers by merging still life with pattern painting in her “Mixed Meta” series. Some paintings depict a large pitcher or urn floating in the center covered by densely layered flora and filigree. The vessel is the focus with the flowers in the supporting roles. Each painting is focused on a particular color story that’s been predetermined by Denison.
Alice Denison’s “Pangloss” paintings explode with energy and extravagance. Ornately rendered plants and flowers, floating on top of darker backgrounds as if they were sewn into tapestries, appear otherworldly, with a dreamlike rendering unlike most grounded still lifes. While ostensibly decorative, the paintings reward prolonged inspection.
Denison received her MFA at Massachusetts College of Art at the Fine Arts Work Center, Providence in 2007 and was the Mass Cultural Council Painting Fellow Winner in 2018.