Mind at Play at Chrissie Cotter Gallery

Thursday 18 May, 2017 

An exhibition that is the result of “years of play with mixed media” is the next to feature at Inner West Council’s Chrissie Cotter Gallery.

 Mind at Play, said artist Michelle Connolly, is informed by her bipolar disorder, which “has been a struggle but I feel has enriched my work with layers of depth to the characters that emerge”.

Speaking more about these characters, she says, “As a child I would see faces and figures in shadows and cracks on the wall.

“Now I see faces in the materials that I use…the series of 52 figures in Mind at Play…are 52 ‘folk’ sculptures that could be cast in a comedy or tragedy, they have hidden narratives either as solo or partnered together.”

Each assembled figure has a unique personality made from a combination of found material and oil, encaustic or acrylic paint.

Michelle said she is inspired by folk artists, primitive art, and the bold use of various materials.

As well, “many artists have inspired me: Picasso, Paul Klee, Jean Dubuffet, James Castle, Ian Fairweather, Sidney Nolan to name a few,” she said.

Mind at Play, at Chrissie Cotter Gallery in Pidcock Street Camperdown, opens Wednesday 24 May and runs until Sunday 4 June.

For more:

Instagram: instagram #connollyart 

Facebook: facebook on MichelleConnollyArt 

Website:  www.michelleconnollyart.com

For an interview with Michelle Connolly, call 0402 413 904.