Current Exhibition | Self Reflections

Gallery I & II
January 15 - February 26, 2021
Closing Reception Friday, February 19th, 5-7:30 PM

The Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles, Missouri, presents its first exhibition of the year with Self-Reflections, a juried exhibition which asked artists to reflect and create self-portraits in response to how they see themselves through their work. Through photography, sculpture, painting, and mixed media, Self-Reflections examines portraiture in traditional and nontraditional forms. 53 regional, national, and international artists are featured. “This is such a fantastic show to kick off the new year.” Explained Sean FitzGibbons, Executive Director of the Foundry, “The Foundry is at the beginning of a transition and to have an art exhibit focused on introspection and personal creative expression is a perfect fit for the Foundry and our community. I am also excited to see how so many artists from our area interpreted this idea of self-reflection.”    

Self-Reflections was juried by St. Louis-based visual artist and educator Natalie Baldeon. “What I found quite powerful is the way that the [artists’] themes collectively transcend beyond the individual who made them. The works selected address topics such as gender identity, societal roles, environmental issues, trauma, anxiety, body image, aging, infertility, motherhood, and the complexities of being an artist. Together these works create rich and complex perspectives regarding self-perception and self-representation. My hope is for the audience to enjoy the works for both their exquisite craft and concepts and additionally to be challenged by thought-provoking content. I view Self-Reflections as an opportunity to get a glimpse into the minds of a diverse range of artists, which will ideally create a space for questions and conversations that expand beyond the gallery walls. “

A concurrent exhibition by New York-based artist Sarah Sipling will be featured in the Ameristar Gallery as part of the Emerging Artist Series. Protest (Print) explores current socio-political issues through various printmaking and collage methods.

For more information, please visit us at foundryartcentre.org or email Jessica Mannisi Art & Exhibitions Coordinator at jmannisi@discoverstcharles.com.

calendar

Exhibition | January 15 - February 26

Closing Reception | February 19

Virtual Exhibit Online | January 29- February 26

FOR SOCIAL MEDIA SHARING

Provided by Rigel Bergonio

juror

Natalie Baldeon

about the juror

Natalie Baldeon is a Visual Artist and Educator living in Saint Louis, MO. She received her Bachelors of Fine Arts from The University of Central Florida in 2008, and her Masters of Fine Arts from Washington University in 2012. She has exhibited her work locally and regionally at venues such as the St Louis Artist Guild, Arcade Contemporary Projects, and the Millitzer Gallery. Her work has also been shown nationally at North Seattle Community College, Seattle, WA; Kinsley Institute’s Grunewald Gallery of Art, Bloomington, IN; Zhou B Gallery, Chicago, IL; San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco, CA; and 1310 Gallery, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. In 2017 she was the Visiting Instructor for 'Drafts in Gesture' at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, and the Visiting Artist for the LEAP Program at the Contemporary Arts Museum. She currently works as an Adjunct Professor at Webster University.

Baldeon’s work investigates psychological states and responses to transitions throughout life. She works in a variety of paint media including watercolor, oil and acrylic. Through her paintings, she seeks to shed light upon subject matters and experiences that are often hidden or obscured. She uses her personal experiences as the entry point to address a broader conversation. The intention of the work is exposure; turning outward what may be concealed within one’s body or subconscious, as well as within the restrictions, taboos and expectations of societal roles. Her most recent body of work focuses on motherhood, and the complexities that accompany it.