April Werle

Lives and works in Missoula, Montana, USA

Artist statement

My paintings stage personified hands as characters suspended within moments of code-switching and self-perception. Duality is a central theme in my work, seen visually through contrasts such as black and white, between saturation and desaturation, and between simultaneous feelings like grief and nostalgia. These characters are often confronting contrasts in mirrors and screens that serve as both reflective surfaces as well as barriers between the different versions of themselves. Inspired by family memories and American film and TV programming like Hanna-Barbera cartoons and Disney Channel, I utilize recurring archetypes to explore their cultural influence on personal identity in relation to family dynamics. Across paintings, installation, and writing, my work explores memory and the evolving awareness of belonging.

Artwork