Nancy Bass - Portfolio of Works

Inspired by the work of the Abstract Expressionists, the fields of color in these paintings emphasize the material qualities of the paint itself and the flatness of the picture surface, while contrasting boldly with the dynamic forms of the animals in the foreground. By displacing the animals from their natural landscape and situating them in the realm of abstraction, these images challenge modern American culture to confront again the enduring legacy of agrarian life.

 
These paintings approach the farm from unexpected angles, pushing the horizon to the uppermost edge, stretching it across elongated panels, or banishing it deep in the distance. The farm animals approach close up to engage in dialogue with the viewer, conscious of themselves as subjects. The use of thick panels, which jut out from the wall, further heightens the physical engagement between animal and viewer.       

 
Each individual animal in this series, captured on an intimate five-by-five-inch panel, is one out of many, a unique participant in the social drama of the herd.  Displayed in multi-panel groupings or as independent portraits, these paintings reveal the distinctive personalities of the animals and the subtle relationships between them.