ASHEVILLE, NC.- Bender Gallery is presenting Harpies, Hybrids, and Hidden Worlds, a solo exhibition of extraordinary paintings by Columbus, Ohio based artist Laine Bachman. Inspired by myths, folklore, and nature, Bachman infuses the colorful worlds she creates with lush foliage, archetypal imagery, underlying themes, exotic fauna, and meticulous detail. The exhibition runs from October 2 through October 31 during the gallery’s regular business hours.
Laine Bachman was a very inquisitive child growing up the rust belt of Ohio. Her mother is an avid gardener and Bachman loved exploring the plant life in her yard and in the woods and the creek nearby her home. Ever curious, she enjoyed peering behind the obvious, such as turning over rocks to discover the hidden worms and insects beneath them. Bachman showed an interest in art at an early age and participated in private art programs and exhibitions throughout her school years. Her fascination with plants and nature, along with an interest in mythology and folklore, is what fuels her imagination.
Bachman’s work defies categorization. She creates ecosystems, hidden worlds, and even planets full of creatures and landscapes, real or imagined, that are all part of the larger narrative. She paints from a combination of the natural world (real life observation, sketches, field guides) and more importantly, from her own curiosity and vivid imagination. Bachman paints in a realistic style with perspective and packs her paintings to the edges of the canvas with intricate detail. When viewing a painting by Bachman, it is as if one has entered a private realm with many secret discoveries to explore.
Bachman’s work also has a decidedly surreal tone. There is an unnatural look to her paintings with exaggerated proportions, imaginary settings, exotic flora, mythical and hybrid creatures, and her beloved harpies (Greco-Roman creatures; part woman, part bird). She paints borders on some of her paintings reminiscent of illuminated manuscripts. Bachman is inspired by French artist Henri Rosseau, known for his large-scale jungle scene paintings, Mexican surrealist Frida Kahlo, and American favorite Andrew Wyeth. Her current work can best be described as Pop Surrealism or Magical Realism if it needs categorization at all.
Bachman studied at the Columbus College of Art and Design and earned a BFA in Painting in 1997. Throughout the years Laine has had work included in several juried exhibitions and group shows at numerous galleries as well as in the Southern Ohio Museum of Art. In April 2019, Bachman attended ArtConnect, a collateral event concurrent with the 13th Havana Biennial exhibition, in Matanzas, Cuba where her work was featured.
