Genevive Zacconi's figurative portraits employ a dark symbolism, presenting viewers with clues that allude to something more brewing below the surface. When she first began studying art, Zacconi found inspiration in surrealists Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte, and Frida Kahlo's dramatic and symbolic works. Blood, cutting, and tears are just a few motifs that make up Zacconi's visual language. Her latest series contrasts realistically rendered figures with endless lines of text, which they cry and hurl into literal word-vomit.
Do you recall the disappointed feeling from childhood, when someone told you the imaginary creations of your pretend games were not real? Painter Mark Elliott seems to be one of the fortunate ones who never stopped pretending. The paintings in his latest series for his upcoming show at Copro Gallery with Genevive Zacconi and Kelly Eden are a sort of validation of these youthful day dreams. Often focused on young characters, the pieces exhibit fantastical scenarios that affirm feelings of playfulness and joy.