Opening Reception: Mari Anna Chism – Directions for Getting Lost

Light refreshments will be provided and the THELMA bar will be open for purchases.

Free to attend courtesy of the National Exchange Bank and Trust.

 

Mari Anna Chism is an abstract painter who works primarily with acrylics. Her practice has evolved as she explores the medium’s properties beyond color. She is interested in the materiality of acrylics that allows exploration of texture, depth, and form, transforming the paint itself into an integral part of the composition.

 

Her work is deeply influenced by a lifelong fascination with repetitive patterns and color harmonies. These elements serve as both a visual language and a way to create a rhythm within her paintings. Beneath the surface, an underlying grid structure anchors each composition, offering a sense of order amid the fluidity of form and color.

 

Using many layers and reductive painting techniques, she aims to create a delicate rhythm that draws viewers in, encouraging them to explore the hidden details within the work. Each layer is meticulously built and pared back, revealing intricate nuances that invite closer inspection and contemplation. The goal is to offer a quiet, meditative experience—one that unfolds slowly, with each viewing revealing new aspects of the composition.