Emily Wise Self Portrait

Inspired by myth-making and the relationships women build with themselves and each other, Wise uses the act of painting as a way to imagine, explore, and interrogate the existence of a sacred feminine space. Bursting with an electric palette of lush, perhaps imagined botanicals, bodies and landscapes, her paintings explode with dizzying layers of detail aimed to access invisible realms through familiar forms. In each body of work, Wise weaves a surreal, overarching narrative as the viewer follows her protagonists on their journey of self through otherworldly terrain.

Emily Wise (born 1988, Baltimore, MD) received her BFA from the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, OR, where she currently lives and works. Exploring themes related to femininity, intimacy, and the mysteries of the natural world, her paintings have been featured in national publications such as Juxtapoz and Artsy. She has exhibited across Portland, LA and NYC with Chefas Projects and DTLA based gallery Simard Bilodeau Contemporary.