MICHAELA YEARWOOD-DAN

(B. 1994)

Maten
2018

Footnotes

Provenance
Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner in 2019



Bursting with energy, Maten, 2018 is an exuberant example of Michaela Yearwood-Dan's highly coveted abstract paintings. Lush strokes of paint sweep across the surface of the canvas, with daubs of colour and peaks of impasto that have been applied thickly with a palette knife. The whimsical surface is juxtaposed against strong brushstrokes of dark blue, drawing the eye to all areas of the painting with a sense of movement and lyricism. As with many of her paintings, Maten also holds a reflective quality, where the viewer can't help but be drawn into the world of the artist.

Working across various media, Yearwood-Dan's paintings, prints and ceramics are transcendent and organic pieces that are a joy to behold. There is something very powerful and feminine about her compositions in the way that they explode boldly from the surface with swirling marks, botanical motifs, abstract landscapes and text referenced from poetry or song lyrics. Utilising rich colour and lush brushstrokes to evoke sensations, Yearwood-Dan creates a sumptuous energy which references her Black heritage, femininity and personal narratives. These depictions are also political, with a nod to, and celebration of queer identity which can be seen in the bright colours of the lesbian and bi-sexual flag, or the historic symbolism associated with pansies and carnations, the latter made famous by Oscar Wilde in 1892 when the poet and playwright instructed some of his friends to wear green carnations on their lapel as a secret gay symbol.

Creating her own unique visual language, Yearwood-Dan has garnered attention as one of the rising stars of the international contemporary art scene. With solo exhibitions in New York and London and works featured in prominent public collections such as the Institute of Contemporary Art Miami, Florida and the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, Maten is a captivating example by one of the most exciting young artists working globally today.