Ana Hamilton's rich experimentation with canvas and other surfaces reveals an exuberant array of images fashioned by her fascination with the kaleidoscopic possibilities of creation. Her art has enlivened shows in Cuba, Spain, Miami, New York and the Lehigh Valley.
Much of her work exudes a joyful energy consonant with the complex systems of nature. Hamilton cleverly taps into the organic vitality of landscapes unfettered by industrial progress and over-population. Her dreamy, earthy accumulation of textures and colors emerge from a poetically charged sense of space. The unusual, thin paper (from Cuba) that she employs facilitates the unique effect she achieves in these appealing pieces.
Although Hamilton is usually externalizing a landscape of the soul, many people make a specific geographic connection with the work. In turn, I was transported to the glorious hills of the Mexican coastline and the Arizona high desert. In spite of erroneous, enthusiastic projections, these images will warm up any house or office and repeatedly launch the imagination into reverie.
The breathtaking beauty of Polimita snail shells is Hamilton's abiding muse. In her hands the shells break free of their cursive constraints and punctuate the paper with playful lines and exuberant colors.
This will be another expansive year for Hamilton. She is traveling to her homeland, Cuba, as part of a 12-woman show sponsored by NAWA (National Association of Woman Artists) as part of a cultural exchange between the U.S. and Cuba. Her work will also be featured at the Bethlehem House Contemporary Art Gallery. With several other projects and collaborations in the works, she shares, “I am very excited to work in the city of Allentown, where the art scene is blossoming amidst the renewal and growth of downtown.”
Expressions Studio | 542 Hamilton St., Allentown (by appointment) | 215.378.0379 | anahamiltonart.com
