Mystery Abounds in Angela Burson's Engimatic Paintings
www.thisiscolossal.com
Angela Burson's 'Analog Conditions' depicts “artificially created situations (that) mimic real-world circumstances."

Mystery Abounds in Angela Burson’s Engimatic Paintings

What do the objects we surround ourselves with say about who we are? For Angela Burson, the shirt we pluck from the closet in the morning and the drink we sip with dinner are especially engaging insights into personal and familial identities.

The artist, who is based in Savannah, often begins with old photographs and re-interprets vintage fashions, tile patterns, and household items in acrylic. She tends to skew proportions and perspectives, achieving a surreal style intensified by her signature crops and headless figures. A vivid, old-fashioned palette of yellow, baby blue, and pale, dusty rose characterizes the mysterious scenes, which peer into intimate moments rife with intrigue.

a painting by Angela Burson of a man in a blue western style suit holding a martini“Western Martini” (2025), acrylic on panel, 12 x 16 inches

In “Taking Notes,” for example, we see two people sitting at a table, the suited figure scribbling on a pad of paper while another grabs for an olive martini. We’re left unsure of whether these notes reflect an investigation into an illicit event or chronicle a more legitimate (and seemingly less likely) cause. There’s also the nefarious cord-cutter in “Disconnected,” a piece in which a black rotary phone is sure to become an object of inquiry.

Of course, not all of Burson’s paintings appear to catch a bad actor. Her characteristic crops also zoom in on a delicate pair of sheer, polka-dotted socks or slender hands grasping a cocktail glass. The artist’s most recent body of work, Analog Conditions, depicts “artificially created situations (that) mimic real-world circumstances.”

Recurring motifs like suitcases and beloved pets allude to themes of liberation and companionship, although Burson continues to leave us puzzled: Why, for example, is there an open pill box next to an unattended pup? And what spurred the adoption of an adorable calico kitten? While ambiguous and inconclusive, Burson’s paintings prompt us, as a statement says, “to question the existential meaning of it all.”

Analog Conditions is on view from September 6 to 27 at Hashimoto Contemporary in New York City. Explore more from Burson on her website and Instagram.

two headless people sit at a table. the man is writing, while a woman has her hand by a martini. the painting is by Angela Burson“Taking Notes” (2025), acrylic on linen, 31 1/2 x 40 7/8 x 3/4 inches a painting by Angela Burson of a small dog on a pink floral blanket on a green couch next to a tiny open compact“Olive and Pillbox” (2025), acrylic on linen, 16 x 20 inches a painting by Angela Burson of a man's feet and legs. he wears yellow shoes, blue socks, and gray-blue pants. a small black rotary phone sits on the floor in the background“Yellow Shoes” (2025), acrylic on panel, 12 3/4 x 9 3/4 inches a painting by Angela Burson of a woman's feet with gray mary janes and sheer white polka dot socks“Vintage Taupe” (2025), acrylic on panel, 9 x 12 inches a painting by Angela Burson of cropped image of a woman's chest. she wears a yellow patterned top with a bright yellow bowtie“Yellow Bow” (2025), acrylic on panel, 9 x 12 inches a painting by Angela Burson of a headless figure in a brown jacket, while skirt, and red gloves. she holds a blue book “Ozark Magic” (2025), acrylic on panel, 14 x 14 inches a headless woman in a blue dress holds a brown cat carrier with a cat inside as she walks across pink and white tile in an Angela Burson painting“Patches” (2025), acrylic on linen, 60 x 40 x 1 1/2 inches a painting by Angela Burson depicts a headless woman in a yellow dress with yellow bowtie. she holds a suitcase and green plant while a cat sits on a table with a pencil in the background“Pencil” (2025), acrylic on linen, 40 x 40 x 3/4 inches

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Mystery Abounds in Angela Burson’s Engimatic Paintings appeared first on Colossal.

From Colossal via this RSS feed