Chicken, 2024
Oil on linen
Artist Bio
Tara Lewis’ paintings exude self-awareness, adornment, realness, and self-decoration in tandem with varying narratives inspired by media culture that often tap self-agency and the contemporary complexities of personhood. Her work weaves a fresh narrative seasoned with irreverence and slight satirical punch, informed by critical reflections on expectations and stereotypes. Tara received her graduate degree from SMFA at Tufts University and her BA in Studio Art at the University of New Hampshire and is a Professor of Art at Phillips Exeter Academy. She has presented her paintings at The Hole, New York, NY; ArtCrush, Aspen, CO; Abigail Ogilvy Gallery, Los Angeles; Room 57 Gallery, New York, NY; Bergdorf Goodman, New York, NY; VSG Contemporary, Chicago, IL; Ki Smith Gallery, New York, NY; Meisel Gallery, New York, NY The Currier Museum of Art, NH; Harsh Collective, New York, NY; Lyons Wier Gallery, New York, NY; Tufts University Art Galleries, Boston, MA and more. Her work is held in many significant collections, including The Bunker Artspace, Beth Rudin DeWoody, The Phelan Art Collection, Brooke Shields, The Seavest Collection, and Ashley Longshore. Tara recently was accepted to a residency at Anderson Ranch in Snowmass Village, CO. She lives and works in both New England and New York City.
Artist's Statement
I painted a portrait of a chicken to experiment with new ways of creating contemporary portraiture. I played with scale, intentional lighting and color vibrancy while elevating the generic qualities of a recognizable plastic figurine that I recently purchased from Michael's Arts & Crafts. I typically paint people, so working with an inanimate object in the studio was a fun experience. I love the duality of the real and unreal qualities of the portrait and the chicken's proud pose on plastic greenery. The painting spins the concept of still life into portraiture in the greater context of my studio practice.
