Abbey Stace

Biography

Abbey Stace was born in Philadelphia in 1970. She grew up spending large amounts of time walking through woods and developing an intense love of nature, space and quiet. In school she studied psychology, art and science, eventually applying to medical school. A stint in the morgue at the Brigham and Women’s hospital convinced her that she preferred drawing the anatomy to dissecting it. She began drawing and painting in earnest with a focus on the figure and portrait.
Abbey interrupted her practice to raise two children which have resulted in a dramatic shift in perspective. This time gave her an appreciation for the diversity of influences that contribute to our experience and how much of what happens to us is the result of luck. While her early work had focused on realistic rendering, a new appreciation for chance operations and a curiosity regarding the interplay of natural forces has shifted her focus to an investigation into materials and abstraction.
A post-baccalaureat program at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art helped solidify Abbey’s new direction. Her current works are investigations into materiality, light and composition as well as the temperature and volume of color. Inspired by natural textures and influenced by minimalist and color field abstraction her process involves the extensive layering and subsequent sanding or rubbing away of media and paint. Through these works she explores the interactions of opposing materials, enjoys the unpredictable turns of her process and the contemplative nature of the resulting images. She has exhibited internationally and is part of private collections all over the world. She lives and works in Philadelphia, PA.

Artist Statement

Fundamental to my practice is the notion that we have little control over our experience. Mine is an experimental process designed to utilize the chance interactions of my chosen materials. When I begin a painting, it is without a plan and I don’t know how it will look when it is finished. For me, this reflects the serendipitous and unpredictable process that is life.

I am interested in the process of becoming. How did an object acquire its particular shape, textures and colors. How do people become who they are? The layers of matter built up and worn away on a surface mirrors the accumulation of experiences and memories in the human psyche. They tell the story of who we are and how we came to be that way, as well as the constantly changing nature of existence. Friction is integral to this process. Wind, water and chemical elements collide and interact over time creating the layers of texture and color on a surface. This reflects the personal interactions both positive and negative that underpin human experience. I often use materials that “don’t mix” in order to explore that friction and how opposing elements can create interesting and surprising results.

My paintings consider the nature of time and the fact of impermanence. Though inspired by natural landscapes and surfaces, I avoid any narrative or literal imagery. These pieces often suggest multiple perspectives and ambivalent textures. What is a close up rock surface to one viewer may be a satellite view of water to another. I rely on abstraction so that the viewer can make their own associations in connection with a personal trove of memories and experiences.

Memory can give warmth to the ruthlessness of time just as water can soften a stone. These paintings are perceptual in nature, intended to affect quiet experiential reflection. Each is a meditation on time and the mystery, spaciousness and rich accidental beauty of the natural world.

Country USA

Website www.abbeystace.com