October 13 – November 25, 2023
The Art Incubator Gallery
Opening Reception: Friday October 13th, 7 -10 pm
Free admission
Crawling Sideways is an exhibition that showcases the latest body of work by Adrienne Dagg, an Edmonton-based visual artist and art educator. The collection of paintings displayed throughout the exhibition form an interconnected narrative, each offering a unique vantage point on the same thematic space. The paintings invite viewers to delve into the intricate layers of the human experience, particularly in relation to the concepts of domesticity and womanhood. The artist skillfully implements colour as a central component, employing hues that reflect the emotional depth and turbulence associated with these concepts. Through her expressive techniques, Dagg breathes life into her subjects and encourages visitors to explore the exhibition at their own pace, envisioning the paintings as interconnected rooms within a house, where colour and expressive techniques serve as key elements in the unfolding narratives.
The inspiration for this collection of paintings stems from the powerful and evocative short story, “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Gilman masterfully describes the confines of domestic life, with its suffocating colours and odours. These vivid descriptions resonate deeply with Adrienne Dagg, as she grapples with her own contemporary relationship to societal expectations of womanhood, which frequently becomes a recurring subject in her artwork.
Artist’s Biography
Adrienne Dagg, a Canadian-born painter hailing from Toronto, Ontario, draws inspiration from her formative years in ever-changing blended family structures. Immersed in a world of constant transformation, Dagg sought solace in the arts, using them as a means to explore themes of anomie, domesticity, space, and the intricate facets of the human experience. With oil paint as her primary medium, she seamlessly blends elements of realism, expressive techniques, and a touch of surrealism in her works.
Dagg’s artistic journey is marked by academic training, having studied painting at both Concordia University in Montreal and the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Her exceptional talent has garnered recognition, including the prestigious Elizabeth Greenshields Award for figurative art and has received support from institutions such as the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, the Edmonton Arts Council, and the Calgary Foundation. Having showcased her work in exhibitions across Canada and the United States, Dagg currently resides in Edmonton, Alberta. Her captivating paintings continue to enthrall audiences with their thought-provoking themes and skillful execution.
Top Image: Crawling Sideways (detail), 2023, oil on canvas
Photo courtesy of the artist
Presenting Partner:
