Monica Adams
Many years ago, Monica Adams visited Paris and was entranced by the romantic beauty of the city. In her new series of work; Dance in this space, she once again revisits Paris and her vivid memories of the place. Her intention is to create a series of paintings based on a modern French bohemian ideal.
Blue hues are introduced into vivid orange or red, deep browns and white colours. Laced patterns across the females dress, and layered into the background in orange, white, blue and brown become a strong visual statement. The dancers dance, lean into a space; the space is filled with printed pattern that surrounds her.
Beauty has always played a prominent role in Monica’s painting and that is again seen in this new work; beauty, space, thick oils and drawn expressive lines. Adams signature style is identifiable through her continued exploration of colour and surface texture. Gentle washes and soft tonal colours are successfully juxtaposed against thick textures and bold movements. This collection also continues the use of drips and building up the surface through thin layering, successfully creating the sense of depth and space.
Adam’s collection of larger works, are complemented by a number of smaller works. The smaller works represent a process of refinement. Working on large canvases Adams is able to create the sense of space and flow that also forms a signature of her work. Her approach is fairly contextual in its nature and allows for the work to be further abstracted. Such abstraction offers an interesting progression, allowing the viewer to fall into the main points of essence of Adams work, eg. the envelopment, the beauty and the flow. Adams states that the refinement of her process has been a liberating experience assisting her in articulating her work more succinctly.
Solo Exhibitions
2011 The Jackman Gallery, Melbourne
2011 Manyung Gallery
2010 Nexus Modern Art
2010 Manyung Gallery Mt Eliza
2009 The Jackman Gallery, Melbourne
2008 The Jackman Gallery, Melbourne
2007 The Jackman Gallery, Melbourne
2004 Gadfly Gallery, Perth
2003 The Jackman Gallery, Melbourne
2003 Gadfly Gallery, Perth
2002 "Metaphor" The Jackman Gallery, Melbourne
2001 "Beauty" The Jackman Gallery, Melbourne
2000 "The Powder Room" The Jackman Gallery, Melbourne
1999 "Street Portraits" Indigo Studios, Melbourne
1999 "Bordello" The Jackman Gallery, Melbourne
1998 "Scarlet Letter" Indigo Studios, Melbourne
1998 "Scarlet Letter" Melbourne Fringe Festival Installation, Swanston Walk, Melbourne
1998 "Changing Faces" Lyall Burton Gallery, Melbourne
1996 "Inner Picture" Kircaldy Davies Gallery, Sth Yarra, Melbourne
Group Exhibitions
2010 Nexus Modern Art, True Self
2010 Manyung Sorrento, Opening exhibition
2010 Glenferrie Contempory Art Gallery
2009 Nexus Stockroom
2003 "Urban" The Jackman Gallery, Melbourne
2002 Manyung Gallery, Mornington
2002 "R Rated" The Jackman Gallery, Melbourne
2002 "The Red Show" The Jackman Gallery, Melbourne
2002 Gasworks Sculpture Bienale, Melbourne
2000 "D.I.Y" The Faculty Gallery, Monash University Gallery, Caulfield Campus, curated by Malcom Bywaters
2000 "Environment" Switchback Gallery, Monash University, Gippsland Campus, Victoria
1999 "New Horizons" Mass Gallery, Melbourne
2000 "D.I.Y" Switchback Gallery, Monash University, Gippsland, Victoria Curated by Malcom Bywaters
1998 "Christmas Exhibition" Bulle Galleries, Melbourne
1998 "Emerging Artists Group Show" Lyall Burton Gallery, Melbourne
Teaching/Positions
2000–Current
Life Drawing, General Drawing, Painting Lecturer, Indigo Studios Director, Indigo Studios
Guest speaker, Arts Business Seminar, Swinburne University of Technology, Wantirna Campus, Victoria
1996–99 Co-Director, Indigo Studios Painting, Life Drawing Lecturer, Indigo studios
Residencies
2002 Caulfield Grammar
2001 Caulfield Grammar
2001 Frankston TAFE
2000 Rigozza Print Studios, Italy
1997 Caulfield Grammar, Wheelers Hill campus
Collections
The Monash University Collection, Clayton Campus
Caulfield Grammar Collection, Wheelers Hill Campus
Indigo Studios Collection
Private Collections in United Kingdom, Singapore, France and United States.
Her Bedroom
In Retro Nude, Deep Orange Stockings
Lucidity
Dance in This Space – Brown Tutu
