Anne Austin Pearce: River Deep, Mountain High
River Deep, Mountain High: Reflections on an Era of Isolation
A Survey of Paintings by Contemporary Artist Anne Austin Pearce at SOKA University of America
February 15 – September 12, 2024
Opening Reception: 5:30-7:30PM, February 15, 2024
Location: Founders Gallery, SOKA University, Aliso Viejo, CA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jenn Singer is pleased to announce, River Deep, Mountain High, an introspective survey of artist and professor Anne Austin Pearce’s works from 2020 to 2024, curated by Cara Megan Lewis of the Wende Museum. The exhibition, opening on February 15, 2024, at SOKA University of America in Southern California, marks a transformative period in Pearce's decades-long career.
Anne Austin Pearce's artistry is deeply rooted in her keen observation of the natural world. Her process involves an interplay of impulsive, fluid movements with precise, contemplative mark-making.
The works in River Deep, Mountain High, began with spontaneous washes of liquid acrylic, over which Pearce gestures with abandon and layers form. An approach that mirrors life's unpredictability and our endeavors to find harmony within it.
Primarily works on paper, the bold abstract paintings display a dance of movement and stillness, embodying the ebb and flow of tidal forces. Through her use of acrylic painting and collaged cut-outs, Pearce creates layers of depth and intrigue, weaving together dramatic waves of motion with intimate moments of tranquility revealed.
The paintings emerged both in response to the isolation of the pandemic and the artist’s connection with nature, having moved from Kansas City, Missouri to coastal California just before global lockdowns began. The artist’s prolific works created in the past four years reflect a shift in her artistic practice as her connection with her new landscape deepened.
The longer seclusion stretched on, the more Pearce's work became a conduit for exploring the juxtaposition of indoor isolation and the solace found in nature's embrace; visual narratives of personal and communal resilience capturing the essence of human adaptability and our intrinsic connection to the natural world.
Join Anne Austin Pearce at the opening reception on February 15th from 5:30-7:30pm at SOKA University of America. For more information about the exhibition and viewing hours, visit www.soka.edu/founders-gallery. Visit jennsingergallery.com/riverdeep and jennsingergallery.com/anneaustinpearce to learn more about the artist and email artwork inquiries to info@jennsingergallery.com.
Exhibition Details:
Anne Austin Pearce: River Deep, Mountain High
A Survey of Paintings by Contemporary Artist Anne Austin Pearce at SOKA University
Opening Reception: 5:30-7:30pm, February 15, 2024
On View: February 15 - September 12, 2024
jennsingergallery.com/riverdeep
Artwork Inquiries: info@jennsingergallery.com
Exhibition Location:
Founders Gallery, SOKA University of America,1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
949-480-4000
Exhibition Inquiries: TBD
ABOUT THE ARTIST
ANNE AUSTIN PEARCE (b.1968, Lawrence, Kansas. Currently lives and works in Laguna Beach, CA)
Anne Austin Pearce studied printmaking at the Kansas City Art Institute, Brighton Polytechnic and the University of Kansas. In 1993, Pearce received a full scholarship to James Madison University, where she received her MFA in drawing and painting. A recipient of a Charlotte Street Award, she has participated in multiple national and international residencies including UCROSS Foundation, Wyoming, DRAWinternational, Caylus, France, Rimbun Dahan, KL Malaysia, and pARTage, Flic en Flac, Mauritious and Akumal Mexico.
Pearce’s work is held in private collections and museum collections including; Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ, Spencer Museum of Art, Lawrence, KS, The Hadley Foundation / Hays Medical, Kansas, Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, Sedalia, MO, MDC Museum of Art, Miami, FL. Selected exhibitions include Daum Museum, Springfield Museum, Springfield, MO, Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Overland Park, KS, Invisible Dog Art Center, Brooklyn, NY, Shore Institute for Contemporary Art, Corcoran School of Art and Design, Washington DC; and the Drawing Center, New York City.
For additional images / information, please email info@jennsingergallery.com.
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