shawn bishop-leo
DESCRIPTION
Shawn Bishop-Leo's second solo exhibition at Leo Kesting, “Strength in Numbers”. Staying true to her past work and the notion of feminine strength, this latest collection follows the evolution of the female gang from its mythical roots to its modern archetypes.Leo creates a series of mixed-media paintings depicting a universe of strong female characters. From the wilds of the Outback to the urban decay of inner cities, the gang girl emerges as both confrontational and fragile. Drawing inspiration from The Amazons, The Suffragettes, and the Foxfire girls, Leo’s work portrays the young woman’s search for identity, sexuality and strength.Utilizing photography, wood, vintage textiles and maps she tells the story of where these women have been, and where they’re going.TRANSCRIPT
Shawn Bishop-Leo
2009
Strength In NumbersNov 12th - Dec 13th
Leo Kesting Gallery
Free Admission/Open to the Public
A, C, E & L train to 8th Ave 1, 2, 3 to 14th Street 917- 650 - 3760 / 917- 292 - 8865 http://www.leokesting.com
812 Washington St (corner of Gansevoort St) New York 10014
Leo Kesting Gallery opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11am until 7pm
From its origins as Capla Kesting Fine Art in Brooklyn, the Leo Kesting Gallery launched in 2003 and developed an aggressive campaign
to introduce new figurative artists to collectors and art supporters. Leo Kesting offers the art
viewing public an opportunity to see forthcoming talents in an intimate setting where undiscovered,
cutting-edge artists are presented to the contemporary art scene.
Info
Strength In NumbersNov 12th - Dec 13th
Leo Kesting Gallery Presents
Shawn Bishop-Leo returns to the Leo Kesting Gallery with her second solo exhibition, “Strength in Numbers”. Staying true to her past work and the notion of feminine strength, this latest collection follows the evolution of the female gang from its mythical roots to its modern archetypes.
In this new collection, Leo creates a series of mixed-media paintings depicting a universe of strong female characters. From the wilds of the Outback to the urban decay of inner cities, the gang girl emerges as both confrontational and fragile. Drawing inspiration from The Amazons, The Suffragettes, and the Foxfire girls, Leo’s work portrays the young woman’s search for identity, sexuality and strength.
Utilizing photography, wood, vintage textiles and maps she tells the story of where these women have been, and where they’re going. “I find maps fascinating in that they are abstractions in themselves of time and place,” states the artist. “In a world where boundaries are always changing and the population ever expanding, the girl gangs have formed out of a need for greater protection and a stronger voice. I feature in these works not just models but peers, a contemporary gang in the making.”
Many of the works showcase individual members that when seen collectively emphasize the shows title, “Strength in Numbers”. In contrast, Leo also intersperses images of ants and bees, matriarchal societies, to further this theme. The innocence of the natural world competes with the chaos of the city, mirroring the inner turmoil of these women’s psyches.
Shawn Bishop-Leo’s “Strength in Numbers” opens to the public with a reception for the artist at Leo Kesting Gallery on Thursday, November 12th from 7:00 until 10:00 pm.
Shawn Bishop-Leo
2009
Opening Night Reception:Thurs Nov 12th, 7pm - 10pm
From the wilds of the Outback to the urban decay of inner cities, the gang girl emerges as both confrontational and fragile.
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Warrior 2, mixed media, 36” x 24”
Huntress, mixed media, 10” x 8”
Warrior 3, mixed media, 36” x 24”
Warrior 1, mixed media, 36” x 24”
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Dogwood Winter, mixed media, 10” x 8”
Fight or Flight, mixed media, 8” x 6”
Hippolyte, mixed media, 10” x 8”
I’ll Cut You, mixed media, 20” x 16”
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Boxed Beef, mixed media, 18” x 24”
Poll Work, mixed media, 8” x 6”
La Dura, mixed media, 24” x 18”
Overgrown, mixed media, 6” x 8”
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Look Out, mixed media, 10” x 8”
We Ride At Dawn, mixed media, 10” x 8”
Do Not Enter, mixed media, 14” x 18”
Coney Island Queen, mixed media, 8” x 6”
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1111
Cage Fighter 1, mixed media, 20” x 16”
Cage Fighter 2, mixed media, 20” x 16”
Cage Fighter 3, mixed media, 16” x 20”
Foxfire Burns and Burns, mixed media, 18” x 24”
New York
Artist Biography
Born: Ames, IowaEducated: BFA English Literature, University of Dayton, OH, Studio Art, Kent State, OHExhibited: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, New Orleans
The focus of Shawn’s work is based around the strong female archetype. Her multi-layered paintings incorporate vintage wallpapers, fabrics and found objects both natural and man made. Leo describes her imagery as “oscillating between the coy and the fierce, a sort of parlay between dominance and submission.”
She explains, “The patterns are often repetitive and geometrical but when layered become jumbled and irrational, pushing background into foreground, object into subject and subject into symbol.” Shawn is also a working fashion designer. Her designs have been sold in stores in Milan, Paris, New York and featured in various fashion magazines.
Shawn Bishop-Leo
Leo describes her imagery as “oscillating between the coy & the fierce, a sort of parlay between dominance & submission.”
(Front) Liberate, mixed media on canvas, 24” x 18” (Back) Veronica Fiasco, mixed media on canvas, 18” x 14”
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(Front) Liberate, mixed media on canvas, 24” x 18” (Back) Veronica Fiasco, mixed media on canvas, 18” x 14”
Leo Kesting Gallery812 Washington Street New York, NY [email protected] - http://leokesting .com917-650-3760 917-292-8865
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