DENVER, CO.- Other than the artist's astounding creativity, gravity is the only force used in the execution of Amy Shackleton's sensational paintings. Using a drip technique normally reserved for abstraction, Shackleton creates stunning representational works in which cities and forests coexist. In 2011 a time-lapse video revealing her process went viral, reaching over 1,000,000 people. Three years later, the ever evolving Toronto based artist is now preparing for her first US solo show opening August 7th with live demonstration August 8th at Mike Wright Gallery in Denver, Colorado.

Vibrancy, precision and a mesmerizing technique set her apart, but the combining of such varied landscapes as Cincinnati and Yosemite National Park into one fanciful image make her work truly unique. “I envision post-industrial worlds where healthy, sustainable relationships exist between man and the environment,” says the artist. “My paintings are intended to portray urban life at its best, demonstrating ways that we can work with nature rather than against it. I explore continually evolving approaches to preserving our environment, living more efficiently, and using fewer natural resources. My art suggests how we can implement innovative solutions for city planning and development with minimal impact on surrounding habitats.”

This synthesis of ideas is manifested in Shackleton's process. Shackleton applies paint with squeeze bottles, rotating each canvas strategically to guide each drip, spraying water and building layers to achieve the desired effect. As in real life construction, the architectural aspects are calculated, measured and controlled in order to assure precise locations of each line. As in nature, the environmental elements are more spontaneous, unpredictable, liquid and organic, relying on gravity's force.

For the Denver exhibition, titled “Down The Road,” Shackleton combines elevated roadways with natural elements. The roads are purposely vacant of cars, inspired by the High Line in New York City, a former elevated railway that has been converted into a one-mile green space.