Medium: Oil on Canvas

Size: 42″ x 32″

Year: 2009

Read more  about May Mayhew

     $ 1000.00

My works are figurative narratives; narratives about events, thoughts, or concepts. The work is also about relationships; relations with others, relations with self. I use technical representation as a tool to bring out the reality of conceptual ideas. I believe in the use of the figure as a tool because we identify with it. The goal is to facilitate a clean narrative.

In recent work, I am exploring two concepts; one the concept of memory and two the concept of love. Memory intrigues me because it is intangible and fleeting. Existentially recalling a memory is interesting because the more one actively concentrates on a past event, the more that is uncovered. In the brain, the memories look like tiny dendrites. Several other images use shimmer and shiny gems as a metaphor for memory bits.

The memory or making memories of love is the most intriguing for me. My work depicting this concept includes mixed media with product affordance to the concept or metaphor. I use mixed media because it has to be experienced (like the feeling of love). I want to explore the idea of love because we are all affected by it. We are innately designed to seek out love from another. I am exploring the process of making real love, not sexual love, but the real essence of what love is. My goal with the memory series and all my work is to tell a story with multiple endings.

The paintings are made primarily with oil paint and secondarily with mixed media. The mixed media materials are chosen for their product affordance. The product affordance lends to the metaphor being communicated

 Exhibitions

 2009 “GALEX 43″. National juried competition and exhibition at Galesburg Civic Art Center Galesburg IL
Elmhurst Spring Members show, Elmhurst Art Museum Elmhurst IL
“Are you Angry?” Juried art exhibition, Naperville Art League Naperville IL
“On the Edge” Juried art competition, Naperville Art League Naperville IL
“4th Annual National Juried Show” Kinsey Institute, Indiana Univ. Fine Arts School. Blooomington IN
“Unreal” Annual publically juried international exhibition. 1 of 30 artists accepted. online exhibition
Elmhurst Summerring Members show, Elmhurst Art Museum (June 20, 2009 opening) Elmhurst IL
Solo show. The Art Matrix Gallery. (Oct. 16, 2009 opening reception) Chicago IL

2008 “Life’s Unique Journey”. Northwest Cultural Council. Juried exhibition. Arlington Hts. IL
Poe.M Arthouse Gallery featured artist Downers Grove IL

1998 The Nude. National Juried Competition. The Loudoun House. Lexington KY
National 1998. The Cooperstown Art Association National Juried Show Cooperstown NY
The California Watercolor Association. Annual National Juried Show. San Francisco CA
70th Student Art Show - The trill of a lifetime. Student and Alumni Juried Show Madison WI
Living MayheM. Solo show. The Living Room Gallery. Madison WI

1997 The Collective. 5 person show. The Hillel Gallery. Madison WI
2nd Annual National Juried Competition at the Madison Ave. Gallery Barelett TN
Avee’. 10 person show. Regional Juried Competition Chicago IL

1996 2nd National Juried Competition. Truman State University Kirksville MO
13 Even. Group Show. Park St. Gallery Madison WI

Art Fairs

2009 Oak Park Art on the square (May 17, 2009) Oak Park IL
Well St. Art Festival (June 13-14, 2009) Chicago IL
Fountain Square Art Festival (June 27-28, 2009) Evanston IL
Oakbrook Invitational Fine Art Fair (Sept. 5-6, 2009) Oakbrook IL
Midsummer Festival of the Arts 2009 - Wisconsin (July 18-19, 2009) Sheboygan WI

2008 Downers Grove Fine Art Fair. Awarded Best in Show. Downers Grove IL

 Education

2007 Figurative oil painting classes. Rhode Island School of Design. (RISD) Providence RI
2004 Masters of Business Administration (MBA) - Marketing. DePaul University, Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. Chicago IL
1998 Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) - studio arts. University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison WI
1997 Studied oil painting and Renaissance art history in Florence, Italy. Florence Italy