In Jaclyn Conley’s new series of paintings, female figures emerge as quiet giants, engrossed in mundane tasks or still in contemplation. Situated in landscapes referencing art historical compositions, the protagonists appear resolutely contemporary, as if temporarily traversing a distinct space-time. Alternating broad brushstrokes in thick impasto with meticulously rendered patterns or forms, Conley’s brushwork heightens the sense of distance between the towering figures and the landscape.

By constructing the disparity in scale between the contemporary figures and historical scenes, Conley also questions the demands for progress and growth in Western culture. In 'Looking at the Sun', 'Night Giant' and 'Crescent Moon', the giants awkwardly obstruct the celestial bodies for the miniature spectators below. Referencing Donato Creti’s series of paintings titled 'Astronomical Observations' (1711), Conley interrogates the repercussions of human desire for knowledge and the sustainability of continued expansion.

Jaclyn Conley