No Comment Painting

Valerie Wilcox is a mixed-media, sculpture and installation artist living in Los Angeles, CA. I take perceived flaws and imperfections and give them a compelling new life. My working process incorporates the ideals of Wabi Sabi. This aesthetic is centered on the acceptance and beauty of transience and imperfection. It refers to quirks and anomalies arising from the process of construction, which add uniqueness and elegance to both natural and man-made objects. In my work, there’s visible evidence of the maker’s hand. The odd assembly and disjointed mechanics reveal my process and address the ideals of perfectionism versus inherent human fallibility. Hope, second chances and authenticity are the values that I strive to incorporate into my artistic practice. I have been a painter, sculptor, designer, and builder of things all my life. I enjoy discovering uncommon and salvaged materials that I can re-purpose and transform into unique wall sculptures. The elements I use include, but are by no means limited to: wood, plaster, papier-mâché, paint, textiles, carpet, metal hardware, cardboard and foam board. Many of the wood remnants I find show a particular architectural usage or a sense of its own history. These foraged materials connect me to my community and are a continual source of inspiration. Being authentic in my process means accepting the failures and trusting that these too can be reimagined into new opportunities. These hybrid works that are both paintings and sculptures become my canvas and manage to transcend their base materiality. My work combines the geometries of Minimalism with the spontaneous spirit of the New Casualists. The intent for my work is to provide a sense of optimism in society's ability to reinvent itself. In the age of cancel culture, there are no second chances. So my work is a hopeful reminder that there’s beauty in the imperfections, and forgiveness for our perceived flaws. My work is distinguishable by its joyful and unorthodox approach to color and form. BIO Valerie Wilcox is originally from San Diego, CA, moved to Los Angeles and received her BFA in Graphic Design from Cal State University Long Beach. She continued her fine art studies at Otis College of Art & Design and Art Center College of Design and currently lives and works in Los Angeles.