Unpacking Power: Gender, Nature, and Resistance
I make work that investigates the fragility and fury of the human state through both figurative and landscape imagery. With figurative subjects, I explore gender and social inequities found in personal and corporate relationships where women or the unempowered are pervasively denigrated. Landscapes depict the indifferent power of nature to heal or to harm. The dialog between these genres contrasts human passion with life’s relentless impermanence.
Feral marks, broken lines, and ragged edges made with myriad tools imbue the ink and paint with reflections on my own experiences and the emotional anguish and absurdity found in asymmetrical relationships. Hazy focus in a balanced palette of saturated hues and neutrals nod to the possibility of a positive cultural metamorphosis to subvert binary gender hierarchies. Figurative reference material is based on news photos or generic images used for corporate marketing and training, emphasizing incongruity. Some landscapes are inspired by my own photography.
In evolving from a lengthy career as a female technology executive, required to go along to get along within the business world, I find myself now wanting to speak out. I have evolved from the safety of the observer to the front lines of the revolution. Though my work highlights power disparities, it also carries an undercurrent of optimism and my belief in personal resilience in the face of adversity. Silence and compliance are no longer possible, so I tear at the cultural packaging to expose what lies below.
Explore a curated collection of Shannon’s evocative artwork—each piece capturing powerful emotions and stories through bold imagery and thoughtful detail. Find the perfect painting to inspire your space and bring a unique voice to your home or office.