What happens when we set aside the need to represent what we see and instead respond with how we feel? To me, life is fragmented and layered, a mosaic of experiences interwoven with reflection and intuition: the places we visit, the homes we live in, the countries we explore – each overlapping and influencing one another. Shades of Grey is a visual expression of how my experiences and memories affect my perception of place and space.

Blending contemporary and classical approaches to painting and composition, I examine how human experience, place and personal memory affect one’s perception of self. I am interested in the interpretations of, and the interactions with, the spaces that surround me. What memories or feelings do these places spark and what sort of energy do they project?

Using gray-scale, geometric abstract paintings, I explore the concept of spatial identity, translating how place and experience uniquely intertwine. I use abstraction as a way to move through and define the two-dimensional surface, and the technique of Grisaille to express the idea of a sketch, the mood of a beginning and an entrance into someplace new. Perspective and transparency, together with techniques of glazing and layering, create an illusion of depth and space, while visually conveying the fusion of memories and experiences.

Marna Shopoff is an Indianapolis-based visual artist with an emphasis on abstract painting and intuitive drawing. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and Master of Fine Arts degree from Herron School of Art and Design, Indianapolis, IN, where she has taught as an adjunct professor in the Foundations and Drawing Programs. Interested in the concepts of design and spatial relationships, her work explores the idea of perception, place identity and visual memory. She is currently represented by Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, New Orleans, LA.

Shades of Grey opens Friday, May 4 with an artist reception from 6 to 10pm in the Harrison Gallery and hangs through May 25.