Luminous Landscapes: The Art of Ann Garney
Thirty brightly colored oil paintings representing landscapes and architecturally interesting buildings the Americas and Europe will be the featured works of Kansas City artist Anne Garney in a new exhibition opening May 31 in The Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art at Central Methodist University.
Titled
"Luminous Landscapes," the exhibition highlights a vibrant
collection of work done over a several-year period by Garney, an
artist who began her career as a homebuilder and designer before
taking up painting as her profession. She first earned a
bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting from
the University of Kansas. Later, after realizing that art was
her heart's desire, Garney undertook additional studies in art
at the Kansas City Art Institute.
"In 1990, I sold my house and quit my job and started painting full time," Garney says, adding that she has never regretted the decision. "I had considered art in college but didn't think it was practical. I kind of made a promise to myself to someday see about art."
A chance to spend 10 weeks in Monaco in the late ’90s and to travel in Western Europe cemented Garney's desire to continue as a full-time artist. She has returned to Rome and Florence and France several times since then and has also traveled to Brazil, Mexico, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Aspen, Colo., to continue her work.
Garney says her work is primarily influenced by the French Fauve and Impressionist artists. Her paintings are described as "celebrations of life" that convey the joyful experience of painting in beautiful settings. "I'm fascinated by color and color relationships," she says, adding, "My paintings are primarily landscapes exploring the energy and emotion inspired by local, cultural sights and scenery."
Garney's
paintings have been featured in art shows in a variety of
venues, including the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art in St.
Joseph, the Huntsman Gallery in Aspen, Colo., and the Wicker
Wood Gallery on St. John in the Virgin Islands. She was recently
selected to have her work featured in the Anguilla International
Art Festival. In January, her paintings were featured in the
Mango Tango Gallery on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands.
As part of the exhibition, a number of The Ashby-Hodge Gallery's permanent collection of lithographs will be on display in the gallery annex.
