In the Light of Day

In the Light of Day

Michelle Phillips

Opening reception: September 2nd from 5-8 pm.2022

Show Duration: September 2nd to October 9th

Venvi Art Gallery is pleased to present, “In the Light of Day” by Michelle Phillips (formerly Michelle Wilcox). In her second solo exhibition at Venvi Art Gallery, Phillips continues her reflections on the simple beauties that decorate our lives, with an emphasis on scenes that reside in the home. Her graceful compositions, paired with her use of natural light and impeccable choice of colors, capture a precious moment in time and a tranquil place of refuge.

In the past couple of years, we have all spent an abnormal amount of time at home, dwelling on its physical interior as well as the historic events occurring on the exterior. During that time she spent in her own home, Phillips’ curiosity landed on the similarities between the events we are living through and the events people lived through in 1918 and the years following. In this body of work, Phillips extends her signature painting style, with its stunning hues and intentional brushwork, to explore our world and the roles of our homes, through the lens of still lifes.

Mimicking the artist's reflections on the outside world, she has recently begun focusing on reflective subject matter within the work, including unique pieces of antique glassware and a mirror on which she assembles her still lifes. This mirror catches the reflections of neighboring houses, clouds, and towering trees. With this setup, her pieces capture both the carefully posed still lifes and the spontaneity of the surrounding spaces. In addition to a new focus on reflective surfaces, Phillips has increased the scale on which she paints. With this expansion, she is able to create more complex compositions, playing with angles and the balance of the objects to create different moods and scenes.

Phillips’ work is inspired by an array of art, including Dutch Baroque still lifes and artists such as Janet Fish, Claude Monet, and Gwen John, as well as authors such as Emily Dickinson and Virginia Woolf. She is also inspired by the history of the still life as it relates to the domestic space and femininity. Long and unfairly looked down on as a genre of art, Phillips embraces the still life as an instrument of empowerment, choosing to celebrate scenes of the home and create a sense of serenity and safety, where the artist and the viewer feel they can be themselves.

Michelle Phillips has earned both a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Art History, as well as a Masters in Fine Art from Florida State University. After graduating with her MFA, she began teaching visual art courses at the University of North Florida and Flagler College as an adjunct professor in 2021. Phillips has shown her work throughout the United States and in many exhibitions in Florida.

“In the Light of Day” will be open from September 2nd to October 9th, with the opening reception on September 2nd from 5-8 pm. Venvi Art Gallery is located at 2901 East Park Avenue, Tallahassee, FL 32301. For more information about the show and Michelle Phillips, visit www.venviartgallery.com.