Vanessa Irzyk
Artist Bio Artist Work
Vanessa Irzyk’s work focuses on geometric shapes shifting in space. She utilizes a combination of intricate meditative pattern making, bold gradations, planes and washes of color to compose a transformative space. She has a deep love of color and uses it to push shapes forward into space mutating a two dimensional canvas into a seemingly three dimensional object.
Artist Statement
This series of work focuses on geometric shapes shifting in space. My goal is to create the illusion of a sculpture in space. I first create a dynamic shape and then establish gradated shadows which push the shape forward into space. Intricate patterns and washes of color are then painted on the surface. I use a mix of solid shapes, patterns, and lines. Color drives the piece; there is a constant push and pull of color balance that evolves during the creation of a painting. Working on thick watercolor paper, I'm able to change the format of my canvas by cutting the surface into a charismatic shape instead of the traditional rectangle.
I create shapes that live in their own realms. From a distance the pieces can seem like sculptures or objects but as the viewer moves closer they can discern that it’s a painting on a 2D surface. For many years I’ve been drawn to having the viewer engage with my art and have to “inspect” the work to discern what it is. Each miniscule line is hand painted one at a time. With the aid of tape and masking fluid I construct shapes that are inhabited by linear patterns that are sometimes layered. I like to trick the eye with shifting planes and shapes that move in front and behind of one another to create tension. Each piece is meant to transport the viewer to a hypnotic and unusual space.
My work is highly intuitive and meditative. Nothing is pre planned or sketched out; the process is very much stream of consciousness. I find tranquility in creating intricate shapes and sometimes obsessive patterns with a flat brush. I relish in intricate mark making. In a world that is so fast paced and full of posts, comments, and breaking news, constructing these complex patterns calms me down, slows me down, and allows me to center my thinking.
Education
2003 - 2007 B.F.A. in Painting & Art Education, Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Boston, MA
Awards
2017
Artist Residency, Room68
2016
Studio Break Pro Category Winner
2014
Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist Fellow
Artist Residency, Vermont Studio Center
Solo Exhibitions
2023
Throughline, Corugat Loft SF https://www.instagram.com/corugat.loft/ 2023
2021
Pattern as Meditation, Shelter in Place Gallery, New York, NY
Fresh Cuts, Longstreet Gallery, Eastham, MA
2019
Space Shift, New Bedford Art Museum, New Bedford, MA
2018
Coupling, Site Specific Installation via the DeCordova Museum & Sculpture Park Corporate Program, 1 Main St., Cambridge, MA
2017
INTERSECT, Room68, Provincetown, MA
Fixed Point, Mosesian Center for the Arts
2016
Flat Zen, Mingo Gallery, Beverly, MA
2015
Intricacies, Paintings/Papercuts by Vanessa Irzyk, Mayor's Gallery, Boston City Hall, MA
2014
Stuck in Amber, Lilypad, Cambridge, MA
2012
In Light of Color, Colo-Colo Gallery, New Bedford, MA
2011
Moving Forward: New & Recent Works by Vanessa Irzyk, Distillery Gallery, South Boston, MA
2009
To Mass a Crowd, Colo-Colo Gallery, New Bedford, MA
2008
Hard Pressed, Brookline Arts Center, Brookline, MA
2006
V vs. V: Girl Fight Tonight (Two Person Show), Tower Gallery, Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Boston, MA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023
Rock Stars, Abstracts & Pop Art - Julie Kramer, Vanessa Irzyk & TJ de Blij, ARTI Gallery, Marblehead, MA
2022
Parallel, Rugosa Gallery, Eastham, MA
Cosmic Geometries, Clark Gallery, Lincoln, MA
2021
Dear So-and-So, Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge, MA
2019
Breakaway, Harvard Ed Portal, Allston, MA
Art in Print, Volume 3, Zone 3, Allston, MA
2021
Dear So-and-So, Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge, MA
2019
Breakaway, Harvard Ed Portal, Allston, MA Art in Print, Volume 3, Zone 3, Allston, MA
2018
Forms of Expression; Geometric Abstraction in Boston Today, Boston, MA Resident Artist at Hourglass Boston Pop Up Shop, Boston, MA
Chromatic Dimensions, Retort Gallery, Boston, MA
2017
The Flat Files: Year Five, Tiger Strikes Asteroid, Brooklyn, NY
Lines, A National Juried Exhibit, Attleboro Art Museum, Attleboro, MA
Lord Help Us Get it Together, Irzyk & O’Day (Two-person Exhibit), Lens Gallery, Boston, MA
Overlaid & Underpinned, Online Exhibit, Curating Contemporary
2016
A Group Thing, Thomas Young Gallery, Boston, MA
Collateral Damage, Skylight, Boston, MA
Hallspace Drawing Project, Hallspace Gallery, Dorchester, MA
Go to the Light, Casablanc, Boston, MA & 301 Gallery at Montserrat College of Art, MA
2015
Boston Center for the Arts' 2015 Drawing Show, Feelers, BCA's Mills Gallery, Boston, MA
Hallspace Drawing Project, Hallspace Gallery, Dorchester, MA
Outside Boston, Visionspace Gallery, Lynn, MA
Prompt, 13FOREST Gallery, Arlington, MA
Winter Blues, Distillery Gallery, South Boston, MA
30 Under 30, Arsenal Center for the Arts, Watertown, MA
2014
Scene by South Boston, Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Boston, MA
September Pop Up, 444 Humphreys Pop Up and Galleries, Nashville, TN (Two Person Exhibition)
Boston Contemporary Art Museum for Contemporary Art, Artists, And Their Contemporaries, Boston, MA
Hallspace Drawing Project, Hallspace Gallery, Dorchester, MA
Primary Urges, Honfluer Gallery, Washington D.C. (Three Person Exhibition)
30 Under 30, Arsenal Center for the Arts, Watertown, MA
Bibliography
2011
Improper Bostonian, 10/5/11-10/20/11
2009
Boston Globe 8/25/09 “The Reach of Youth”
2008
Boston Women’s Journal, April/May 2008
Brookline Tab 4/10/2008
2007
Ithaca Times Vol. XXX No. 16, 12/19/2007
Books, Blogs, and Interviews
2017
Podcast Interview with Studio Break
2016
Here To Create Interview: http://bigredandshiny.org/23961/here-to-create-vanessa-irzyk/
2013
PEEK, Featured Artist: September 6, 2013, http://www.leegainer.blogspot.com
2010
25 Emerging Boston Artists by Rifrakt Collective, 2010