Xan Salas
Elements of Abstraction
June 4 - June 25, 2010
Reception:
Thursday June 10, 2010 6-8 PM
Press Release
Xan Salas’ art captures the essence of her subject. Characters project their spirit through a compelling gaze, posture, and expressive features. Her bold modeling of the face and figure along with brilliant, splashy hues creates a beautiful yet startling effect. We find timeless, totemic figures with masklike faces and surrealist-inspired backgrounds fashioned with animated brushwork and intricate patterns. Borrowing inspiration from the likes of Warhol, Matisse, and Pollock, she channels their vision to create a host of new images. Salas is not shy with her brush; her paintings display a confident artist who seems able to concentrate the energy of life into a unique work of art. "My paintings focus on expressions and personalities of a particular subject," she explains. "Many are exploding with color and peculiarity, while others are sedate and well detailed."
Beyond painting, Salas is talented in a range of media including printmaking, jewelry, clay, stained glass and framing. She has exhibited her work in New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, California, and Hawaii. Xan Salas resides in Dover, Delaware.
Artist Statement
Artistically, I have always been captivated by form and human spirituality. Virtually every piece of art that I create takes on an organic or lifelike form, whether it is in clay, silver or paint. Many of my paintings focus on expressions and personalities of a particular subject, whether through vibrant color or sedate detail. I like to use mixed-media; I might use acrylic, pastels and ink, then add pieces or objects that relate to the subject matter. A great deal of my current work is centered on physical obsessions, notably the topic of the female body and how women might use their own bodies as a starting point for artistic expression. I am also continually intrigued by questions of how art influences society, and am engaged in an exploration of race and culture. All this helps me to create in my work a looking-glass for the soul.
Invitation to the exhibition
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