Anna Dvorak RECENT WORK C ATA L O G U E 2016-2020
artist statement
My work reflects inspirations drawn from the natural world, from rock formations of major rift zones to landscapes of the western plains - and utilizes an intellectual, technical and emotional process that moves from representation toward abstraction. Throughout this process, my intention is to expose an impression of nature, generated by a response to the forces behind the natural landscapes left behind after dramatic geological change. The original inspiration of these landscapes - what is visible on the surface - suggests at the energy and phenomena that occurred under the surface but has come to rest, appearing immutable and quiet. Spending time immersed in these landscapes has taught me how the natural phenomena mirrors the experience of being human. As we are constantly shifting emotional and spiritual beings, the surface of our appearance reveals little of the changing terrain underneath the surface as we explore what it means to be alive. Technically, the paintings are created by staining unprimed raw canvas with layers of fluid acrylic paint applied in extremely liquid form. The painting surface is slowly built up over weeks, where the fluid and unpredictable colors interact and intersect. The result is a richly colored, layered and subtly textured surface, which hints at the initial watercolor studies, but gains a depth and intensity from the stratum of pigments. During observation and distillation, the abstracted images take their direction and structure from nature and retain their most vital characteristics in an essential way, reflecting through the process the unpredictable quality of nature - and being - itself.
grasslands series
I travel regularly between the land of northern prairies and the plains of the western high desert, crossing back and forth through the grasslands of the middle west. Guided by what exists in the spirit of place, my work responds in lyric softness to the geological, environmental and political history of landscape, aware of the tumult and force that lies beneath the surface, then and now. My language is color and movement, inspired by the grief of western sunsets and the melancholy of broad vistas. The story is a visual narrative of the land, living somewhere between memory, dream and future. In the extended Grasslands series, sky mirrors earth in a land where the physical experience of place is suspended in the horizon of the spirit, held sacred by our collective memory.
Mt Blanca, Alpine Wind acrylic and ink on canvas 38x42� 2020
Mt Blanca, Solstice acrylic and ink on canvas 42x36� 2020
Mt Blanca, Summer Storm acrylic on canvas 29x40� 2020
Rio Grande River Valley acrylic on canvas 56x40� 2020
Night Sky (Horizon) acrylic on canvas 44x44� 2019
Night Sky (Sangre de Cristos) acrylic on canvas 30x40� 2018
Dunes, Pink Line acrylic on canvas 30x40� 2019
Star Dune (Shadow) acrylic on canvas 30x40� 2019
Night Sky (Sangre de Cristos) acrylic on canvas 29x35� 2019
Dune (Valley) acrylic on canvas 29x35� 2019
Valentine Grasslands, Center Lake (storm) acrylic on canvas 44x44� 2018
Valentine Grasslands, Center Lake acrylic on canvas 44x44� 2018
Niobrara Wildlife Refuge 3 acrylic on canvas 40x36� 2018
Niobrara Wildlife Refuge acrylic on canvas 40x36� 2018
Niobrara Wildlife Refuge 2 acrylic on canvas 40x36� 2018
Niobrara River acrylic on canvas 36x40� 2018
Buffalo Gap Grasslands acrylic on canvas 29x40� 2018
Buffalo Gap Grasslands 2 acrylic on canvas 25x40� 2018
Buffalo Gap Grasslands 3 acrylic on canvas 29x43� 2018
Atmosphere 3 acrylic on canvas 20x20� 2018
Niobrara River 2 acrylic on canvas 23x32� 2018
Atmosphere acrylic on canvas 26x35� 2018
Atmosphere 2 acrylic on canvas 50x38� 2018
Moonrise, Valentine Grasslands acrylic on canvas 38x40� 2018
Storm, Valentine Grasslands acrylic on canvas 38x40� 2018
Night, Comanche Grasslands acrylic on canvas 38x50� 2018
Atmosphere 2 acrylic on canvas 50x38� 2018
Valentine Grasslands acrylic on canvas 55x42� 2018
Valentine Grasslands Pony Lake acrylic on canvas 66x48� 2018
Valentine Grasslands, Sunset acrylic on canvas 26x39� 2018
Comanche Grasslands acrylic on canvas 28x44� 2018
Dusk, Sangre de Cristos acrylic on canvas 34x46� 2018
Cimarron Grasslands - storm acrylic and ink on canvas 24x22� 2017
Comanche Grasslands acrylic and ink on canvas 35x29� 2017
Ulysses, Kansas acrylic and ink on canvas 25x25� 2017
Kansas series
Kansas acrylic and ink on canvas 42x56� 2016 (private collection)
Kansas 2 acrylic and ink on canvas 42x56� 2016
Kansas 3 acrylic and ink on canvas 11x16� 2016
Kansas 8 Acrylic and ink on canvas 20x23� 2016
Kansas 12 Acrylic and ink on canvas 20x23� 2016
element series
Wind-Water acrylic and ink on canvas 45x64� 2016
Wind-Water 2 acrylic and ink on canvas 48x60� 2016
Wind-Water 3 acrylic and ink on canvas 54x64� 2016
Exhibitions 2014-1018 Danish Teak Classics, Minneapolis MN 2017 Michael Warren Contemporary, Denver CO, two-person show 2017-2018 Lexington Restaurant, St Paul MN 2017 Wyoming Creative, Wyoming MN, juried show 2016 Q2 Gallery, Minneapolis MN, solo show 2015 Michael Warren Contemporary, Denver CO, solo show 2014 Michael Warren Contemporary, Denver CO, group show 2012 Space Gallery, CO 12x12” group show 2009 Denver International Airport, CO, Art of the Dunes show 2009 Space Gallery, Denver, CO, three-person show 2008 Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO, group show 2008 Space Gallery, Denver, CO, two-person show 2007 Catherine G. Murphy Gallery, University of St Catherine, MN, solo show 2007 Joan of Art Gallery, Minneapolis, MN, solo show 2006 Frank Stone Gallery, Minneapolis MN, three-person show 2006 Arvada Center, Arvada CO, invitational group show 2006 Space Gallery, Denver CO, Nature’s Rhythm: three-person show 2005 Arvada Center, Arvada CO, invitational group show 2005 Gallery 360º, Minneapolis MN, rotating exhibition 2004 Frank Stone Gallery, Minneapolis MN, group show 2004 Frank Stone Gallery, Minneapolis MN, three-person show 2004 Minneapolis City Hall, Minneapolis MN 2004 Gallery 360º, Minneapolis MN, rotating exhibition 2004 Gallery 360º, Minneapolis MN, “5 foot show” 2003 Crema Cafe, Minneapolis MN, two-person show 2003 Affinity Credit Union, Minaneapolis MN, solo show 2003 Gallery 360º, Minneapolis MN, rotating exhibition 2001 Crema Cafe, Minneapolis MN, solo show 2001 Art Students League, NYC, group show, drawings 2001 Art Students League, NYC, group show, paintings 2000 Art Students League, NYC, group show, drawings 2000 Art Students League, NYC, group show, paintings 1998 Cooks of Crocus Hill, Saint Paul MN, group show 1991 College of St. Catherine, Saint Paul MN, B.A. graduation solo show Education B.A. College of St. Catherine, Saint Paul, MN; art Art Students League, New York City, NY; drawing and painting
We really just love art - we enjoy seeing art and we enjoy living with art. At Michael Warren Contemporary, we showcase contemporary artwork that speaks to us personally. We present colorful abstract and figurative work alongside contemplative sculpture, installations, works on paper and photography with particular emphasis on materials and process. Come on in to the gallery and enjoy the shows. If you are in the market, let us try to help you find the artwork that you love. If we don’t have what you like, our team of ArtLook consultants will be happy to help. We are honored to work with talented artists from around the country and thrilled to have the opportunity to share our love of art with the community. Mike & Warren Michael Warren Contemporary 760 Santa Fe Drive Denver, CO 80204 303.635.6255 www.michaelwarrencontemporary.com