Harman Projects opened its doors to Evanescent Splendor, a solo exhibition by Barcelona-based artist Miss Van. The exhibition will be Van’s debut solo exhibition with Harman Projects.
Over the past several decades Miss Van has established herself as one of the world’s preeminent street artists, traveling the globe, painting murals and exhibiting her paintings in galleries and museums. For the first time in over ten years, the artist will present a solo exhibition in New York City.
For Evanescent Splendor, Miss Van has created 19 new paintings and drawings focusing on her signature female forms, which she calls her muses. These figurative works with their colorful flowing hair, commune with nature as elongated foxes and wingless birds cling to their bodies. Animals adorn the subjects of the paintings as if they were living hats, capes or Venetian collars.
In past exhibitions the muses were mysterious, covered by masks and partially obscured to the viewer. For this new body of work they have removed their masks, a fitting statement for the current times. Despite still being partially covered by their own hair, whimsical animals or monumental leaves, their faces are more accessible to the viewer than ever before, allowing for the portrayal of a greater range of emotion. With tilted heads, pursed lips and down turned eyes, the artist creates a series of emotionally expressive female subjects who emote sentiments that feel all too relatable during the waning days of a global pandemic.
A limited edition, 20″ x 16″ archival pigment print of Floating Birds Muse IV (pictured above will be made available exclusively in-person at the opening, with an online release date to follow via the Harman Projects online store.
Miss Van: Evanescent Splendor will be on view from Saturday, September 3rd through Saturday, September 24th, 2022 at Harman Projects, 210 Rivington Street, NYC.
About the artist ~ Miss Van (also known as Vanessa Alice) started wall-painting at the age of 20, in 1993, initiating the feminine movement in Street Art. Originating from Toulouse, France and having spent most of her artistic life in Barcelona, Miss Van has travelled the world painting her instantly recognizable women on the streets, as well as on canvas. She has exhibited extensively for decades worldwide in Europe, USA and Asia.
Miss Van’s recent artistic pursuits have taken her to Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, UK and Europe, which hallmarks a recent return to street art, after several years spent solely painting in the studio, charging her new works with increased depth, emotion and an elevated romantic darkness and delicacy. Her iconic sultry female characters reappear in sensual yet dark animal masks and evolving environments.