Spectacle: New Oil Paintings by Ingrid V. Wells
Exhibition Dates: November 10 – December 16, 2017 | Thurs-Fri 12-4PM, Sat 12-5PM, by appointment
Opening Reception: Friday, November 10 | 6-8PM
Location: Glass Rice 680 8th Street, Suite 240B, San Francisco, CA 94103
Everything’s Coming Up Roses, 2017, oil on canvas 48 x 60 in.
Glass Rice is proud to present Spectacle, a solo exhibition featuring bright, colorful oil paintings by San Francisco-based artist Ingrid V. Wells. In this her latest series, Wells continues to investigate the idea of the feminist spectacle—a topic the artist is particularly concerned with—bringing to light the sticky-sweet, childish portrayal of female identity in society. Created in Wells’ signature aesthetic, these over-the-top, sparkling works deliver a shockingly accurate commentary on the ridiculous misery that women are forced to endure to achieve equality and respect. Spectacle will be on view from November 10 through December 16, 2017 with an artist reception on Friday, November 10 from 6-8 PM.
Using pageantry, celebrity, fanfare and pop culture as recurring themes, Wells paints a visual cacophony of quaint, girly objects in vibrant, feminine colors. These seemingly innocent and cheerful candy landscapes with titles such as Diamonds and Pearls and Babies, OH MY! and Everything’s Coming Up Roses draw giggles from the audience as they consider the beautiful frivolity before them. Upon further inspection, however, the miniature plasticine trinkets—painted as shiny still lifes inflated to grand proportions—provoke a bizarre, almost suffocating encounter. As the enlarged, gendered objects dance in a crazed swirl of luscious pink, one begins to realize the more profound, underlying message behind the smiling clouds and happy critters.
Bright Lights and Lollipops, 2016, oil on canvas 32 x 48 in.
Thoughts on Being Agreeable, 2016, oil on canvas 32 x 48 in.
Taken individually, the trifles are cute and delightful, but clustered into a candied extravaganza, the complexity deepens and the sugary mass of artificial happiness overwhelms. This line of inquiry exposes the immense pressure women feel to maintain the ideal feminine demeanor as charming, precious, and small. The fascinating and disturbing juxtaposition of light-hearted toys with the sickening reality of suppression aims to provide a place of subtle reflection and to, ultimately, dismantle the patriarchy (in the sweetest way possible).
Wells, in speaking about her artistic practice and thematic goals, comments:
“My gestural approach to painting contemplates the notion of female power as it enters into the discourse of painting. By emphasizing the artificial display of the female personality type with over-the-top, dripping spectacles of paint, these works critique the ridiculous and absurd tradition of the feminine norm. I hope my work can serve as a platform for viewers to engage in the conversation surrounding displays of femininity and how that affects the amount of power and respect we give to individual women.” In addition to Spectacle, Wells will also be exhibiting a collection of small-format bow paintings from her 30 Paintings in 30 Days series.
Pink, Plastic & Proud, 2017, oil on canvas 48 x 60 in. 
About Ingrid V. Wells
Ingrid V. Wells earned her MFA from San Francisco Art Institute and has been painting for close to a decade. Fancying the fantastic and humorous in theme and the charming, the kitschy, and the celebrity in subject, Wells’ paintings investigate the world of gendered consumerism and the ethics of fascination. Her work has been featured in The Huffington Post, Daily Mail, BUST Magazine and Teen Vogue, among others. The artist currently lives and works in San Francisco, CA.
About Glass Rice
Glass Rice is a contemporary art gallery serving as a platform for artists from all walks of life, providing them with an outlet to exhibit their work to an audience outside of their immediate spheres. The gallery works with local, emerging artists, as well as established Chinese contemporary artists in an effort to promote a broad roster and a sense of cultural exchange. Glass Rice is located in the SoMa district of San Francisco, CA. Their goal is to foster recognition rooted in artistic vitality and vision by building genuine relationships with artists and communities.
