8/7/2019 Molly Hill Press Release
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Basement Gallery 928 West Main Street Boise Idaho 83702
Hill places figures within the composition as decorative
elements in a tableau. Theyappear to have a limited interaction
with the depicted events or other players in thescene. Instead they
nearly always hold a direct gaze with the viewer. This
devicecreates a slightly awkward nature to the work that is quite
charming. With economy ofline and color Hill paints engaging faces
that demand our attention.
I first came across Molly Hills work while researching Boise
artists, just before mymove from the UK. I was immediately
attracted to Mollys simple folk art sensibility,oblique narratives
and rich colors, and had contacted her before my visa was even inmy
hand. As it happened my timing was quite perfect. She had just
found herselfwithout representation in Boise, following the
redirection of the J. Crist Gallery in orderto become the guardians
of the James Castle collection and study center. However, itwas
almost a year before I was able to provide a gallery space to show
her work. Ithas been another year leading up to this first solo
show at the Basement Gallery.
Although Hill had always painted, describing herself as a closet
artist, she did notpursue art as a vocation until relatively late.
She had already had a corporate careerand her daughter was grown
before she received her BFA from Boise State Universityin 1997 and
was accepted into the University of Washington's MFA program in
1998.Her mother became ill with cancer, which necessitated her
return to Boise beforecompleting her MFA. Despite this
interruption, she recalls the year spend a grad schoolas being
formative and where she began developing the style that she works
in today a style she has continued to evolve in the more private
and reclusive environment ofher studio at home. Over the past
twelve years she has established a deservedreputation with
galleries representing her work in both Idaho and Washington, and
haswork in Boise Art Museums permanent collection.
The Exhibition continues until 30 April. For further information
and/or press imagesplease contact Jane Brumfield at the Basement
Gallery on 208 333 0309, 208 2970498 or email
[email protected]
Listings InformationBasement Gallery: Molly Hill : 7 30 April
Molly Hills paintings have a simple folk art sensibility with
oblique narratives. Figureswithin the composition act as decorative
elements in a tableau, holding a direct gazewith the viewer. This
devise creates a slightly awkward nature to the work that is
quite
charming. With economy of line and color Hill paints engaging
faces that demand ourattention. Open: Tuesday Saturday, 10am 5pm
& by appointment.Basement Gallery 928 West Main StreetBoise,
Idaho, 83702T: 208 333 0309www.basementgalleryboise.com
