9.11.13



Duuuuudes my friend Patty Farias wrote a really sweet article about my work.. it's a really awesome read.THX PATTY!! The article and link to her blog are below. 

http://p-farias-writings.tumblr.com

The Mirror On The Wall: Understanding The Works of Shanna Van Maurik 

Women have been portrayed for centuries in art as an ideal. Delicately formed within the quiet spectacle of fantasy and romance; forever contained by the strict palette of man’s artistic vision. Shanna Van Maurik’s paintings offer up a vision of women that resembles fruit that has long past its expiry date; crawling with curious disfigurations, but somehow more desirable than ever. In Van Maurik’s world, nothing is sacred. Instead, purity is made a mockery of by the colours that Van Maurik feverishly injects into her paintings, causing the women pictured in them to catch fire in the most cathartic of ways. This is not paint by numbers. Van Maurik treats each composition as if it were her last opportunity to touch paint. It is that desperation that liberates her from the obligations of perfection. The same obligations that are tied to womanhood, the same obligations that are tied to what is expected of “fine art”. All dressed up and nowhere to go? The characters that Van Maurik creates within her delicious dystopia have already gone. They have returned with a lethargy that only exhausted sexuality can provide. Women in Van Maurik’s world do not exist at the pinnacle of desire; they have transcended into abjection, where vanity sees itself reflected in a broken glass. They have lived and lost and are not ashamed to tell their twisted tale. In fact, if you stare into the bright light long enough, you might even begin to see yourself reflected in the eyes of an imperfect situation.

27.10.13

COLLABS



I'VE BEEN DOING SOME COLLABORATIONS

WITH MY BOO ERIN ENNS

THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO








FALL 2013

NEW STUFF FALL 2013 
COME SEE THESE GUYS IN THE FLESH AT... 
contemporary countenance

CREATURES CREATING

822 DUNDAS ST WEST
RUNS NOV 7-14
OPENING RECEPTION NOV 7, 8PM


Beauty Queens
2013
36"x36"
Oil and enamel on panel



Visitors
2013
12"x9"
Oil on panel

Paper Bag Beers
2013
12"x9"
Oil and enamel on panel
Lady of Thorns
2013
8"x6"
Oil on panel
Out of Body
2013
8"x6"
Oil on panel

Scum
2013
12"x9"
Oil on panel


Magic Spells

2013

48"x36"
Oil and enamel on canvas

4.6.13

Something new to hurt your eyes....






Brandy
2013
48"x36"
Oil, acrylic, and enamel on canvas



SUMMER COLOUR



I'll have some pieces in 

SUMMER COLOU

at Canadian Fine Arts from 

June 8th to August 31st. 

 The opening is June 8th from 2-5pm.

Hope you can make it out!


19.4.13

NEW THIIIIIIIINGS



Las Vegas Past
2013
50”x50”
Oil, acrylic, and enamel on canvas



Horror Show
2011
48”x36”
Oil, acrylic, and enamel on panel




Pizza Girl
2013
48”x36”
Oil, acrylic, and enamel on canvas



Teenage Girls
2013
36"x28"
Oil, acrylic, and enamel on canvas