Ellen Ball - "Beyond Your Glittering Eyes" at J. Mackey Gallery

Description

The J. Mackey Gallery in East Hampton, NY, is proud to present "Beyond Your Glittering Eyes," a solo exhibition featuring the captivating works of artist Ellen Ball. The show, which runs from June 27th to August 3rd, will kick off with an opening reception on Saturday, June 29th, from 5 to 7 PM, providing an excellent opportunity for art enthusiasts to meet the artist and immerse themselves in her thought-provoking mixed media paintings. Additionally, the gallery will host a special event, "Cocktails & Conversation with the Artist," on Thursday, July 11th, from 5 to 7 PM, offering a more intimate setting for visitors to engage with Ball and gain deeper insights into her creative process and the themes that drive her work.

Throughout the exhibition, viewers will be captivated by Ball's large-scale pieces that explore the tension between women's empowerment and the constraints imposed by societal beauty standards and expectations. By layering paint, papers, textiles, and unconventional mediums onto found imagery, Ball creates highly textural and visually provocative compositions that challenge the notion of perfection and the pressures faced by women in the 21st century. Her work draws inspiration from a diverse range of artists, including contemporaries such as Marilyn Minter, Mickalene Thomas, Christopher Wool, and Elizabeth Peyton, as well as historical figures like Warhol, Matisse, Botticelli, and the gold ground painters of the early Renaissance.

A standout piece in the exhibition is "Once I Had A Love," a collaboration between Ball and legendary rock photographer Mick Rock. This striking work features a fierce portrait of Debbie Harry from Blondie, embodying the artist's fascination with strong women and rock 'n' roll icons. Ellen Ball's background as a graphic designer and her experiences living and working in New York City have had a profound impact on her artistic vision, which is further influenced by her time spent in Greenwich, CT, and the east end of Long Island. "Beyond Your Glittering Eyes" promises to be an engaging and introspective exhibition that invites viewers to explore the complexities of contemporary womanhood through the lens of Ellen Ball's remarkable mixed media paintings. Don't miss the opening reception on June 29th and the special "Cocktails & Conversation with the Artist" event on July 11th at the J. Mackey Gallery in East Hampton.