lntroducing the Subtle Wit of Elizabeth Fox
The d. m. allison gallery is dedicated to the exploration of new and emerging talent, as well as being a venue for nationally known visual artists. In its new group show, the gallery is featuring the works of Elizabeth Fox, whose paintings have a sprightly, highly contemporary look, not too far from what might expect in a New Yorker cartoon - that, by the way, is a compliment.
The men in her paintings are all fit, and the women are slender, with great anatomies made clear by tight-fitting garments. Fox's artist statement is unusually interesting, reading in part: "Tensions are introduced to question sexual, gender, and age relation. These questions are left unanswered as to who or what is the dominant power." Along with Camille Paglia, I'm betting on the women.
Fox has a dry, subtle wit, and the painting titled "Wish You Were Here" has an attractive mature couple in front of a birdhouse on a tree, with birds flying, probably love birds, and apparently domestic tranquility in play, while a streaming banner gives the woman's real sardonic thoughts" "omg not another walk of shame . . . lol I could just". Inside, she is dying with amusement at the naivete and folly of men.
"Mystery Train" has a woman putting her attache case in the overhead rack, while four men in a row, wearing suits and fedora hats, read newspapers, though two are secretly watching her. Her dress is transparent and seductive, but if the men give her any trouble, I have no doubt she can handle it.
"iron glove hat in hand" has a female donning red gloves, these seemingly flexible despite the title, while three men all dressed the same, with similar looks, hold their hats to protect their genitalia. I do think Fox has opted for the dominant role in relationships.