ELLEN BALL | BEYOND YOUR GLITTERING EYES
Solo Show at J. Mackey Gallery East Hampton | June 27 - August 3
OPENING RECEPTION:
Saturday, June 29 | 5 – 7 PM | J. Mackey Gallery | East Hampton, NY
COCKTAILS & CONVERSATION WITH THE ARTIST :
Thursday, July 11 | 5 – 7 PM | J. Mackey Gallery
J. Mackey Gallery in East Hampton is pleased to present “Beyond Your Glittering Eyes” a solo exhibition of works by artist Ellen Ball. Through this timely exhibition, she employs large scale mixed media paintings to explore the tension between women’s empowerment and entrapment by beauty standards and conventional expectations. With an emphasis on iconic forms, distilled to their abstract minimal shapes, lines and contours, her work has been described as “ highly textural, ripe with visual tension and questions of interpretation.”
Utilizing a self-discovered process, Ball works with found imagery which she reinterprets by layering paint, papers, textiles and unexpected mediums to create a new and unique composition. “Deliberate juxtapositions and purposefully degraded imagery prompt questions about beauty, perfection, and issues surrounding contemporary icon “worship”, devotional imagery and the pressures put on 21st century women,” she states.
Ball’s work is influenced by contemporary artists such as Marilyn Minter, Mickalene Thomas, Christopher Wool, Elizabeth Peyton, with echoes of Warhol, Matisse, Botticelli and the gold ground paintings of the early Renaissance.
A significant collaboration with legendary rock photographer Mick Rock allowed Ball to create “Once I Had A Love,” also featured in the show. Often referred to as ‘The Man Who Shot the Seventies’, Rock shot over 100 album covers and is known for images of legendary rock icons such as Syd Barrett, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Queen, the Sex Pistols, The Ramones and Blondie. After familiarizing herself with his vast archives, Ball chose the fierce Debbie Harry from Blondie to make a new work, which connected to her themes of strong women, and rock ‘n’ roll icons.
Ellen Ball’s background as a graphic designer and her years living and working in New York City influence and inspire her work and are evident in her choices of imagery and application. After receiving her BFA from Denison University, she went on to study at the Studio Arts Centers International in Florence Italy, the New York Studio School, and Parsons School of Design. Ellen now splits her time between Greenwich, CT and the east end of Long Island -both locations that add meaningful inspiration to her work.
Solo exhibitions include, “Women Creators, Ellen Ball new work” at Waverly Beach Hamptons in Southampton, NY, “Ellen Ball, New Works | Mixed Media,” LOOC Art, 2 Rivington Street, New York, NY, “Ellen Ball at Fresch Style,” Covet Closet, East 57th Street, New York, NY, “Art installation, 141 Wooster,” New York, NY, and “Ellen Ball, Untitled,” Rhythm Ryde, Dumbo, Brooklyn, NY.
In addition, Ball’s work has been in group exhibitions including MvVO AD Art Show at Powerhouse Arts, Brooklyn, NY, MvVO AD Art Show at the Oculus, World Trade Center, New York, NY. “Quogue in Common” at The Quogue Gallery, Quogue, NY “Limited Exhibition of artwork by Ellen Ball,” Good Gallery, Westhampton beach, NY, “Quogue Artists Open Studios” Quogue, NY, “We All Belong,” Gallery at the Church of Heavenly Rest, New York, NY, “Installation 498 West End Avenue,” residential real estate project by Louise Forbes, New York, NY, “Artists in Residence, A Salon Series,” presented by Carole Reed and James Salomon, Southampton, NY. Her work can be found among the collections of prominent figures in fashion, entertainment and design.
ABOUT J. MACKEY GALLERY
J. Mackey Gallery brings original works to the Hamptons community. The gallery represents emerging as well as established artists and is committed to fostering the impact art has to aesthetically enhance spaces, provoke thought and stimulate the senses.
Reflecting the spirit of the Hamptons as a place of serenity, natural beauty and vibrant colors, J. Mackey Gallery strives to ensure the artwork represented is accessible to the public while creating an inviting and unique visitor experience and place of reflection.
The Collection is also available in Palm Beach, FL, Locust Valley, NY and Bronxville, NY.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit our website
jmackeygallery.com or contact Justine McEnerney at
917-592-8568 | jm@jmackeygallery.com
