Carole d'Inverno

Lives and works in Brooklyn, NY, USA

Artist statement

ARTIST STATEMENT History is central to my work. In the late 70s, I immigrated from Europe to the United States. I saw the disparity in wealth, the gun violence, the racial tension, but also the familial interactions in close-knit communities, the pride in country, the belief in ‘everything is possible’. I turned to history to understand the contradictions. I travel quite a lot in the US and have seen many changes since the late ’70s. From the brake-neck expansion of the suburbs, to the emptying of Main Streets, the decline of the industrial cities of the North, and the population explosion of the Sun Belt, America keeps morphing. In contrast with my upbringing, the country seems to be in constant motion. Jobs, homes, families, neighborhoods, wealth, all can change in a blink of time. How can I understand these phenomenas? What is behind them? What do they have in common? Instead of trying to grasp the whole picture at once, I focus on regional history. Each community I study and render in paintings and drawings adds to my understanding. To prepare for a new series I visit the local communities. I take in the scenery and spend time with locals. I listen to stories, go to museums and art centers, look at monuments, read at the local library, and even peruse restaurant menus! I consult maps, photos, relevant books, and fill sketchbooks with notes and drawings. A unique picture starts developing in my mind. In the studio my intuition takes the lead and I let the facts, places,...

Artwork