In 1901, American artist Emily Noyes Vanderpole published Color Problems: A Practical Manual for the Lay Student of Color. Disguised as a flower painting and decorative arts manual, this 400-page tome offered groundbreaking approaches to color analysis and theory, decades before modern movements like Minimalism and Mid-Century Modernism gained recognition.
Vanderpole’s contributions were overshadowed by the likes of Josef Albers and Wassily Kandinsky, whose work now dominates Western art canons. This exhibition addresses the erasure of women artists by revisiting their roles in shaping color theory and design.
She Presses a Flower to Her Cheek: A Feminist Revisioning of Colour Theory combines historic works from the School of Art Gallery’s permanent collection with the work of seven contemporary Winnipeg-based artists, highlighting the thoughtful use of color in female art practices. By creating an intergenerational dialogue, this exhibit explores color’s power in expressing emotions and perspectives across time.
Featuring works from the SOA Gallery Permanent Collection by: Judith Allsopp, Josef Albers, Patricia Fulford, Emily Halluqalik, Wassily Kandinsky, Wanda Koop, Audrey Ann Riller, and Elizabeth Willmott.
School of Art Community Artists: Alyssa Bornn, Leigh Bridges, Cassandra Cochrane, Janine-Annette Littmann, Ekene Maduka, Hanna Reimer, and Liv Valmestad.