POLLY LAW
“My work is paper dolls with deep personal issues. My subjects range from the toxic legacy of child abuse, commentary on the dichotomies of self women have historically faced, to the utter joy of language and how ideas become not only words but also pictures. I use humble materials - illustration board, acrylic paint, buttons, wire to achieve elegant and sophisticated effects. I manipulate the forms and employ pattern, rich color and gesture to explore myths of deep-time and current self. Some of my works reflect my punnish and puckish humor. So perhaps resilience is also a theme. The figures stand proud of the backgrounds to achieve a flat/3D effect- turning the frame into a proscenium. Each piece a small theatre for private dramas but wry humor also plays its part.
The female figure is my usual vehicle for expression. The figures themselves are inwardly-focused though their gaze may be disconcertingly direct. Often they chafe at the constraints of mode but who does not also wish for the rustle of silk in their life? My work has been favorably compared to that of Joseph Cornell but in fact has been more influenced by the animation work of Jan Svankmajer, and the luscious patterns, textures and graphic forms of Eyvind Earle.”
- Polly Law
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2012 Ritual Gestures Performed at the Appointed Hour, Woodstock Artists
Association & Museum - Woodstock, NY
2010 The Word Project: Odd & Obscure Words - Illustrated, Hudson Beach
Glass Gallery - Beacon, NY
2009 Selected Works, Oriole9 - Woodstock, NY
Selected Works, Barnes & Noble - Kingston, NY
2008 The Word Project: Odd & Obscure Words - Illustrated, The Little Gallery,
Sage College - Albany, NY
2008 The Word Project: Odd & Obscure Words - Illustrated, Arts Upstairs -
Phoenicia, NY
2007 Inspired Eyes, M Gallery - Catskill, NY
2006 The Word Project: Odd & Obscure Words - Illustrated, Woodstock
Artists Association & Museum - Woodstock, NY
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2012 Three Visions: Scheele, Nelson, Law, The Anchor Inn in conjunction
with Julie Heller Gallery - Provincetown, MA
2012 NYFA/MARK '11, Kleinart James Gallery - Woodstock, NY
2012 15, Albert Shahinian Fine Arts - Rhinebeck, NY
2011 13 Artists of Ulster County, Brooklyn Arts Gym - Brooklyn, NY
2010 Far & Wide, 2nd Annual Woodstock Regional, Woodstock Artists
Association & Museum - Woodstock, NY
The River, Regional Art Exhibition, WAAM
2008 Hudson Valley Women Artists Outside of the Box, Barrett Clay Works
Gallery - Poughkeepsie, NY
2008 Watermark '08, North Carolina Community College - Whiteville, NC
2007 Holiday Show, M Gallery - Catskill, NY
2006 3rd Biennial Dimensional Salon, Society of Illustrators - New York, NY