ALISSA
V A N
A T T A
530 West 25th Street, New York, NY
Alissa Van Atta’s abstract paintings possess a distinctive old feel. Each piece holds a story revealed only as we peel off the layers Van Atta has laid out for us: an epistolary correspondence between a sailor and his lover, penned hesitantly by a quivering hand; maybe an adieu or a nervous declaration of passion. Or perhaps a journal, stained and half-effaced by the hand of time, only a few scribbles left to unveil its secret confessions. A map, a music score, a dance choreography. Van Atta’s stories take shape through a combination of layering, coffee stains, ink washes, and charcoal lines, which create a surface that resembles creased yellow parchment. She likes for the markings and brush strokes to be visible and unrefined, celebrating the beautiful imperfections of humankind and nature. Influenced by Cubism and Abstract Expressionism, she designs her compositions through a process of deconstruction and intuitive gestures that command the viewer’s attention. Born in California, Van Atta traveled a lot as a child. She spent three years in Paris as an adolescent and six months in Latvia with her father, who worked in academia. Van Atta earned a BFA in Fine Arts with Painting and Art History concentrations from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She exhibited extensively in North Carolina, in both juried shows and group exhibitions. Her art was featured on the cover of Genetics in Medicine, the official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, and in Art Folio 2021. She currently resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
V I E W A L I S S A VA N AT TA O N A G O R A G A L L E RY
Hostage of Hope, 2021 Acrylic on Canvas 48” x 48” $ 2 4 0 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Hurt and Heal, 2021 Acrylic on Canvas 48” x 36” $ 2 0 0 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
The Suffering of Cindy Loo Hoo, 2021 Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas 48” x 36” $ 2 0 0 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Ruby Smudges can Wreck Havoc on Shirt Collars, 2021 Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas 48” x 36” $ 2 0 0 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Gold Crumbles with a side of Pink Clouds, 2021 Acrylic & Gold Leaf on Canvas 48” x 36” $ 2 0 0 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Dancing with Stitches, 2021 Acrylic on Canvas 40” x 30” $ 1 7 5 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Forget the Hopscotch, 2021 Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas 30” x 24” $ 1 3 5 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Pulled Loose Threads, 2021 Acrylic on Canvas 24” x 20” $ 1 1 0 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
To the Moon, 2021 Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas 40” x 30” $ 1 7 5 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Steel Wind Chill, 2021 Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas 30” x 24” $ 1 3 5 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Steel Resolve, 2021 Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas 30” x 24” $ 1 3 5 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Veiled Layers, 2019 Acrylic on Canvas 30” x 24” $ 1 3 5 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Foggy Bottoms, 2021 Acrylic on Canvas 40” x 30” $ 1 7 5 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Listening Deeply Again, 2020 Acrylic on Canvas 48” x 40” $ 2 2 0 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Struggled Empathy, 2020 Acrylic on Canvas 24” x 20” $ 1 1 0 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Truth Decay, 2020 Acrylic & Oil Pastel on Canvas 24” x 20” $ 1 1 0 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Art is a visual language that one creates, one you hope resonates with the viewer. To have that experience is often beyond words, just a feeling of comprehension or intrigue… to have the work have an impact is my aim. My paintings elicit a visceral reaction utilizing multiple layers, textures, and paint; leaving the conclusions to the viewer. An organic, imperfect aesthetic resonates with me. I work in the moment, often showing my thought process in the lines and marks I leave visible in the finished piece. My work extends from the simple thought of not fitting in and builds upon that in different manners using a phrase of thought as the starting inspiration. Themes that I have explored in series included “The Other,” “Hinting at Ambiguity,” and “Fragile Structures.” The titles of the artworks are intentionally ambiguous and encompass aspects of thoughts and observations during the creative process. I primarily work in acrylic and have used mixed media to assist in creating layers of interest - whether it is just charcoal or adding texture with tissue paper or cheesecloth. I am always exploring, testing what works, and building upon that knowledge. “If you could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint.” -Edward Hopper
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