Anna Cyan, Bloom, oil on linen, 28 x 20"

In works like First Light by show artist Nicole Bishop, the body language is telling a story of healing after hardship—one piece out of a series that walks the viewer through stages of a female figures “metamorphosis and change,” says the artist. “Each piece stands alone and does not need to be seen with the others to be appreciated. First Light especially is a stand-alone piece and a personal favorite of mine.”

Kimberly Dow, Grasp, oil on panel, 16 x 16"

Bishop continues, “The inspiration for this new work came to my mind in a quiet moment when I was contemplating a decision I was suddenly confronted with a few years ago. As I was contemplating my choices, an image of a nude figure came into my mind, very clearly. She was lost and naked, the nakedness was specifically there to show her vulnerability, and this was very important to me. The figure has morphed with each painting I have created of her and has gone on a journey with me the last couple of years…Just as coming out of a dark dream or a deep sleep, the light that is first seen can hurt your eyes and you have to shield them for a moment to allow yourself the time to adjust. Although the light may be welcomed and the figure is ready to step into it, she has been used to the darkness and it can be hard to do so. [First Light] is a reminder to be gentle with oneself through the process of rising.”

Katayoun Stewart, Lullaby for Grownups, oil on linen, 21 x 41"

Artist Katayoun Stewart also explores themes of healing, along with the other complexities that come with human existence. “My current body of work…[questions] what it truly means to be human in every aspect, whether physical, emotional or psychological,” she shares. In addition, Stewart notes that a recurring theme is light and shadow, not just as visual tools, “but as metaphors for hope, mystery and the unknown aspects of life.”

Nicole Bishop, First Light, oil on Dibond, 36 x 20"

For her highly realistic show piece Lullaby for Grownups, portraying a sleeping female figure in the nude, Stewart explains, “At that time, I was confined to bed recovering from neck surgery and closely following the troubling political news from Iran—constantly worried about my family there. I was physically and emotionally in pain. However, even in the worst situations, my mind was actively generating ideas for new paintings. This led me to focus on the concept of healing. I felt compelled to use the motif of a sleeping figure, symbolizing not just a means to healing, but also a desire to temporarily escape or pause reality until I regained my strength. Additionally, with the ongoing violence in Iran and people losing their lives, the image of a sleeping person bore a resemblance to death, yet it also represented hope for a different world.”

Brent Schreiber, Listen 31, acrylic on panel, 48 x 24"

Artist Leah Lopez highlights her affinity for atmospheric lighting and dramatic narrative in pieces like Ascension—a nude woman set against a background of moody clouds. “The drama and romance I like in imaginative paintings, like Ascension, convey elements of light and atmosphere and require a steady diet of seeing and painting from life,” says Lopez. “I hone my craft by composing, observing and painting still-life. Staging and painting still-life is a clue to the different stories that I like. I painted Ascension with another work that I did not submit to Flesh, titled Water Maiden…The idea for these came from my love of the sky that I see here and the idea of incorporating constellations just before dusk.  The idea asks, ‘What if the constellations weren’t composed of stars but contemporary romantic female representatives? Water Maiden is the feminine Aquarius and Ascensionis Virgo.”

Leah Lopez, Ascension, oil, 48 x 30"

Join these skilled artists, alongside many others, in honoring the human figure and the emotion our bodies convey by experiencing Flesh, from February 1 through 28. —