Color Theory is an immersive art exhibition that explores the emotional and psychological impact of color in art. Featuring a diverse range of artists, Juniper Briggs, Emily Furr, Carrie Gillen, Katherine Houston, and Allison James, the show delves into how color can influence perception and evoke responses. Each piece highlights different color palettes and techniques, demonstrating how colors can alter mood, create depth, and shape narrative. — ANFA
The opening of Color Theory continues the celebration of 10 years of the ANFA gallery in Charlotte, NC. Featuring artwork by artists, Juniper Briggs, Emily Furr, Carrie Gillen, Katherine Houston, & Allison James the exhibition will be on view through November 25th.
I was especially excited to see the new work of Juniper Briggs, and the few artists that are new to us, Katherine Houston’s apply named ‘Color Theory’ acrylic on polished acrylic cubes and St. Louis-based Carrie Gillen’s stretched fabric and acrylic.
Little Sparrow | Juniper Briggs
What drew you to the Cubism style of art and more specifically a female-focused perspective of this style?
I love the elegant simplicity of Cubism. I’ve always been drawn to figurative art. I found some old journals a while ago with doodles of abstract figures throughout. Looking back, I can see the thread of my influences. I remember getting a calendar full of Pre-Raphaelite Rossetti, portraits in high school and cutting them out to hang all over my room. In college I studied abroad, first in Mexico and then in Spain, returning to live in Barcelona after graduation. I fell in love with the figurative folk art in Mexico and the Cubism I saw in Spain.
My work is mostly female-focused because, as a woman pulling from my own experiences, that’s what I’m drawn to and what feels most natural to me.
Balancing Act | Juniper Briggs
Pear Picnic | Juniper Briggs
How has this particular style allowed you to explore your love of color and shape?
I get to play with colors and shapes all day long. I love the process of breaking down forms to convey familiar compositions in unexpected ways. The same goes for color. I rarely have a plan and there are no rules when it comes to exploring contrasting combinations. It’s the best job in the world!
— Katherine Houston —
Born in Longview, Texas, in 1959, Katherine Houston is a contemporary artist celebrated for her vibrant contributions to the pop art movement. With a distinctive style that blends bold colors and playful imagery, her work captures the essence of modern culture while inviting viewers to engage with themes of nostalgia and identity.
— Allison James —
Allison James (b. 1989) is a contemporary abstract painter. James is continually inspired by the messy (but thrilling) human experience. Her work is fueled by personal events and memories, along with conversations overheard from strangers and inside storybooks. James reconfigures these felt emotions into a preferred outcome, translating feeling into her own abstracted storytelling. With this trio of internal processing, Allison is able to construct a new visual narrative of self through her paintings, each piece emanating with saturated color and subtle details. She uses her training as a representational artist and printmaker to build up her signature silhouettes with layers of thin paint, elusive details and recognizable shapes that she endearingly refers to as her ‘decoder ring things.’
Opening | Carrie Gillen
— Carrie Gillen —
Carrie Gillen is a St. Louis based painter and sculptor. She received her B.A. from Loyola University in New Orleans and her MFA from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Her current body of work focuses on materiality, abstraction, and nuanced color relationships. She uses fabric and other materials to to create dynamic wall sculptures. These novel substrates amplify tension in the form and further abstract the painted compositions within. Gillen exhibits her work locally and nationally, including recent solo exhibitions in New York City, NY, and Milwaukee, WI. She is the recipient of the Jose Jimenez Public Art Award and the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis Artist Support Grant. She is currently a studio member at Intersect STL a non-profit studio, gallery, and classroom supporting the south side neighborhoods of St. Louis.
Choreography | Carrie Gillen
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