Lighthouse ArtCenter will present “Exhibit A,” showcasing the art of WPTV news anchor and artist Ashleigh Walters, April 13-22. The exhibition features more than 50 acrylic paintings, jewelry pieces, and small-scaled three-dimensional objects.
Walters’ art celebrates the variety of what people consider “ordinary life” and explores how the same item or place can evoke nostalgia or emotion differently. She captures snapshots in time with well-known household brands and products such as Goldfish, Marshmallow Fluff, Mrs. Butterworth’s, and McDonald’s as her subject matter. Her paintings use contrast, shadow, and reflection to make moments in color beyond what exists to the eye.
“I am interested in how people’s lives intersect with their neighborhood and home. We may choose products into adulthood because that’s a brand our parents always purchased, or we may associate a specific brand with our perceived level of luxury,” said Walters. “Places like laundromats and barber shops are interesting; some of my most valued conversations have happened in diners. These seemingly ‘ordinary’ spaces and objects are where so much of life happens. It’s fun to consider what that looks like to each of us.”
Walters often uses repetition in her work but sees and paints each item as an individual. She photographs and paints shelves stocked with products in grocery stores and is fascinated by how each section evokes a different mood. Although many of the products she paints are not things she eats or feels nostalgic about, they still produce an emotion for her.
“My paintings are mostly still lifes and landscapes, but in some ways, I see them as portraits of individuals and communities. The objects and spaces reflect the people who use them, enjoy them, or cast them aside,” said Walters. “I love to seek out the “ordinary” when I travel and in various neighborhoods here at home because it’s a gift of perspective.”
In addition to her paintings, Walters will showcase showing small-scaled jewelry and objects created from epoxy resin.
Lighthouse ArtCenter will host an opening reception April 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Tequesta gallery. Admission is free for members and a $5 suggested donation for nonmembers. For more information, click here.
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