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Phyllis Gaughran


Studio: 48 Caton Place

Website: phyllisgaughran.com

Instagram: phyllisgaughran


 

I have been fascinated by the textures, colors, and shapes of discarded pieces of nature such as rocks, driftwood, and shells for as long as I can remember.  On the beach I would find a simple shell and integrate it into a small collage so it no longer looked like itself.  The truth is it never looked like a shell to me; even on the beach it was a small circle transforming the beach to a collage.

My work started small and then grew from smaller pieces to multiples to even larger canvasses up to 6 feet in length.  On these larger canvasses, broken bits of bark, shell, and leaves would break beyond the frame.  Although the composition might resemble nature, they were abstractions to be interpreted by the viewer.

In the late 70's through 90's, I was fortunate to work closely with two artists who deeply influenced my work— Siri Berg who taught me how to use color and Theodore Stamos who held regular meetings with artists to give and receive feedback on our works in progress.  It was during this time that I developed larger paintings and held several exhibitions in the Soho area of New York City. 

In 2012, I moved back to Brooklyn where I was born and shifted the focus of my work to suit a smaller working space.  I continue to explore texture, shape, and color in smaller collage pieces and I have recently developed a new focus on abstract figure drawings using charcoal on paper.