Art Opening - Justine Ickes

"On the Wild Side" - Mixed Media

On Exhibit: March 3 - April 9

Opening Reception: Thursday, March 5 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM

ABOUT THE ARTIST

A mixed media artist living in Torrington, Justine Ickes creates contemporary nature-themed art inspired by the real and the imaginary. In her solo show “On the Wild Side” Justine combines vibrant colors, lively patterns, intuitive marks, and richly layered and visibly textured surfaces to conjure the magical, ephemeral alchemy of the natural world. Think cheerful flower bouquets, fanciful still life tableaus, and whimsical landscapes.

Justine’s love affair with botanical-inspired art goes all the way back to her childhood experiments with wax paper, melted crayons, and leaf rubbings! These days she still loves messy art play – whether she’s painting with acrylics, carving and printing with stencils, piecing together a collage, or trying a new resist technique. 

She has also always been fascinated by how different cultures depict nature. Look closely at her artwork and you’ll see textures, patterns and marks inspired by different art forms such as Japanese sashiko, Indian korma, and Islamic botanical motifs.

Justine also hosts classes and workshops in-person and online where she teaches people how to make their own happy art. 

You can learn more about Justine and see a collection of her work at justineickesart.com.