Emma Amos’s artwork is currently showcased at Ryan Lee Gallery LLC, located at 515 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10001.
The African-American artist, born in 1937 in Georgia, USA, and passing away in 2020 in New Hampshire, delves deep into themes of racism and sexism in her work.
The reality is that there are numerous magnificent and inspiring galleries in New York City, often referred to by many as the unrivaled capital of the art world, in my opinion it is, and each time I have visited the city, and I will continue, have had – and will have – the opportunity to explore only a fraction of them.
The extent of one’s exposure to galleries can be influenced by various factors, including Instagram algorithms, word-of-mouth recommendations, and the emergence of particular art or artists by coincidence.
Occasionally, chance, or perhaps even destiny, – same as in life, plays a role.
So you might have been in search of a specific gallery on your list, and then, as if by serendipity, you find yourself gazing skyward, your attention captured by something you‘ll catch behind the windows on the second, third, or fourth floor. Happened to me regarding Ryan Lee and Emma Amos ..
Emma’s works possess an magnetism, drawing viewers closer through their combination of their size and compelling subject matter.
With soft, meticulously painted colors and the judicious use of sepia-toned photography, she both constructs a bridge that spans from the annals of history to our present moment, or emphasising the contrasts between the two.
Emma is an artful storyteller! conveying her narratives with conviction and a profound sense of importance. She stands as a pioneer, and as it The New York Times put the year after her death: „Amos did not just want a seat at the table; she wanted to remake the table itself.“
In the 1950s, Emma embarked on a journey of experimentation within Abstract Expressionism, the dominant artistic technique of this era, still living in Atlanta.
Moving to New York City In 1960, and never gave up her commitment to expressive paint for a lifetime.
Throughout the 1980s, Emma exhibited a profound desire for emancipation, the longing to be free, much more free! and this newfound energy is displayed in – with! – her art:
Look at „Flying Circus“ (1987), displayed at Ryan Lee Gallery, too. Vibrant, potent, bewildering, and humorous, it encapsulates the rollercoaster that is life — a tantalizing invitation to immerse oneself in the art and life of painter and fighter Emma Amos.
