Liz Walsh,
Liz Walsh, "Phantasy," 2023. Acrylic, gouache, and airbrush on canvas, 60 x 48 in. / Holly Coley, "Centaurs Run This Land," 2023. Glazed stoneware, 19 x 6 x 18.5 in.


1275 Minnesota St / Eleanor Harwood Gallery

Walsh's painting and Coley's ceramics contain imagined prehistoric flora and fauna painted and made of clay. Both artists use materials to better understand inner and outer worlds of the human into a world where centaurs roam portals of lush prehistoric still life.

Both artists play with ideas of reimagined history fed by imagination and past experiences. These articulations include fantastical creatures and landscapes that blend seamlessly with elements of antiquity and plant worlds through paintings and developed forms and objects made of clay.

Liz’s intricate tableaux transport us to a realm where plant and animal motifs are intertwined. By pushing the boundaries of the space and filling the compositions with pop elements and overgrown gardens, Walsh represents an internal landscape that is filled with spirits, technology and sometimes the entropy of our world. These themes appear in her work in the depiction of cockpits, mythicanimals and exaggerated fauna. These combinations hope to entice and repulse the viewer, leading to a familiar yet unreal portrayal of the world.

Holly delves into the depths of reimagined history, infusing her creations with a sense of genesis. Her work challenges us to reconsider our notions of the past, a glimpse into a world where ancient creatures and icons are laid into new reliefs of clay. Her playful forms manifest into strong vessels which have a classical quality. 

Together, these artists play with the boundaries of reality and notions attached to certain objects. They are exploring the inner and outer worlds of the human experience, through their creations, and they prompt us to question our assumptions and delve into the possibilities that exist at the intersection of art and history. These narratives hope to transcend time and space, considering the different states of the human condition and the possibilities that lie within our imaginations.

Eleanor Harwood Gallery