Hidden Treasure

Posted on Posted in Artist Spotlight, Narrative Works

I’m hoping that visitors to the Polymer Art Archive will often have a visual experience like walking into the diamond vault at DeBeers headquarters: suddenly dazzled by sparkle.

In that vein, let me introduce you to Jo-Ellen Trilling, one of the hidden treasures in my slide collection.

Jo-Ellen had been a painter before venturing into mixed media sculpture which relied heavily on polymer.  Spend a few minutes with these enigmatic tableaus from the 1990’s.  The whimsy begins with the titles, but takes on added depth as you engage with the “magic realism” of her work.

Jo-Ellen has by no means given up painting.  Opening on January 10, 2008 at the Spanierman Gallery in New York City, twenty-five of her recent paintings will be featured in a one-woman show.

Jo-Ellen Trilling, Orange Julius Takes out the Bluebird of Happiness, 1993, 15″h x 16″w Jo-Ellen Trilling, Helen and Paris at Home, 1994, 12″h x 7″w
Jo-Ellen Trilling, Orange and Albert Explore the String Theory, 1999, 18″ x 15″wJo-Ellen Trilling, Rhinodalisque, 1995, 10″ x 10″w

About

I cannot remember a time in my life that I wasn't interested in looking at art, talking about art and the making of art. In 1990 I earned a Phd in art history at the University of Maryland. My first experiences with polymer clay were in 1992, but I consider my real work with the medium to date from 1999.