Dancers #40 Oil on canvas, 84" x 360" 2017
My large-scale painting, Dancers #40, was featured as an installation at the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum at Hollins University. While creating this work, I wanted to convey the energy movement and to create a balance between the dynamism of dance and abstract forms.
The goal was to evoke the flow and interconnectedness of dancers in motion. I think the expansive size of the painting allows viewers to immerse themselves fully, encouraging a physical and emotional connection to the piece. During its exhibition and performance, it became a backdrop for dancers’ interactions—from visitors reflecting quietly to performers engaging with the piece through movement. The reflections of the museum floor added an unexpected layer, mirroring the figures and extending their vitality into the space.
This painting is part of my ongoing practice of interdisciplinary dance and visual art, where I strive to translate the ephemeral nature of movement into a static yet dynamic visual language. Each figure suggests motion yet remains rooted in the canvas, a paradox that mirrors the fleeting yet eternal nature of dance.
I am grateful for this opportunity to experience this work with an audience whose presence brought it to life in ways I could have never imagined.
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