I am inspired by the decadence of Art Deco; the hope and efficiency of Mid-Century Modern aesthetics; the joining of texture, light and comfort in interior design; the riotous maximalism in haute couture; the rawness of tribal mark making; and the implied doorway to the unseen in esoteric symbology. I am also conducting deep investigations into color–its complexities as a visual phenomenon as well as its role as catalyst for sparking feeling and narrative. My early forays into making included sewing, assemblage, and collage—essentially simplified joining of hard edges of color, shape and texture. Math minded with a degree in writing, my self-taught approach to painting includes a formulaic method for containing aery expressions with an underlying grid structure and many layers of “drafts” to be edited, re-edited and fine-tuned. – Alyson Khan
