The exposition presents a dialogue between the works of two artists, Lisa Ivory from the UK and Patricia Ayres from the USA, who both share an interest in topics such as constraints (both external and internal), protection mechanisms and overcoming fears.
American artist Patricia Ayres is well-known for her anthropomorphic totem sculptures – like the sisters of Venus von Willendofr, they personify prehistoric femininity but also resemble Hans Bellmer’s fetish dolls. Ayres has long considered themes of the body. Her sculptures relate to stories of isolation, separation, and confinement. The United States currently has the world’s largest incarceration rate. Ayres analyzes how the human body is controlled and limited in detention facilities through the infliction of physical and psychological trauma. Drawing on the knowledge and experience as a fashion designer, Ayres uses a variety of materials and accessories for clothing in her works, transforming and making them non-functional. Ayres’ sculptures reference pain, torture,
Lisa Ivory’s artistic practice explores the concept of otherness and its inherent duality of fear and attraction. The artist creates fantastic worlds of mythical creatures. She finds inspiration in myths, fairy tales, and folklore. Her work makes reference to chimeras, hybrids, and other classical narrative archetypes – for example, the relationship between “Beauty” and “The Beast” and the beast / maiden dynamic. Ivory’s paintings recall Francisco Goya’s and Honore Daumier’s art.
Patricia Ayres lives and works in New York. She attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture (2019), received an MFA from Hunter College (2018), BFA from Brooklyn College and a fashion design degree at The Fashion Institute of Technology. Her works have been exhibited at Matthew Brown Gallery in Los Angeles (2020), at Koenig & Clinton Gallery (2019) and Kornfeld Gallery in Berlin (2020), at the International Print Center in New York, at The College Art Association, at The Bronx Council on the Arts: Longwood Gallery in Hostos and in NARS Foundation. Ayres is a participant of prestigious art residencies: The Studios at MASS MoCA (2019), Lower Manhattan Cultural Center, Su-Casa (2020). In 2022, the artist will participate in the Sculpture Space residency. She is a nominee for The Rema Hort Mann Foundation (2019). Patricia Ayres is currently attending a long term art residency (2019-2021) at the Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program in Brooklyn. In the fall of 2020, she won a NYSCA / NYFA Artist Fellowship in the «Craft / Sculpture» category.
Lisa Ivory lives and works in London. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Central Saint Martins (London). Ivory’s works are regularly exhibited at the Charlie Smith Gallery in London, and in 2020, the artist’s solo exhibition was held at the Pamela Salisbury gallery (the USA). In the same year, Lisa Ivory’s works were presented by Fragment Gallery at NADA Miami art fair (in the format of a pop-up exhibition in Warsaw).