In Nightbloom, a solo show coming to Tracey Morgan Gallery this spring, Asheville artist Ursula Gullow brings the drama of the past into today’s world. “I work between media and invent processes as I go, so I have an affinity for the improvisational quality of Rococo art,” Gullow says, referring to an 18th-century aesthetic known for its pastel colors, ornate details, and love of extravagance. “It’s an era that has long been criticized for being showy and superficial, but I kind of relate to how extreme that style is.” For this latest body of work, Gullow amplifies the decorative spirit of Rococo, taking its flowers, scrolling curves, and dreamy narrative scenes and pushing them into something bigger, bolder, and a bit more contemporary. “Her richly painted tableaus and lustrous ceramic objects recontextualize sentimental narratives, innuendos, and adornments prevalent in European art history,” Tracey Morgan Gallery shares in a press release. “Flowers, foliage, ribbons, petticoats, silk stockings, and ornamental filigree fill her oil paintings of landscapes and interior spaces.” The exhibition opens on Friday, May 16, and runs through late June.
Nightbloom: May 16-June 22; Opening Reception: Friday, May 16, 6-8pm
Tracey Morgan Gallery / 22 London Rd., Asheville / traceymorgangallery.com