I am captivated by the small markers of life in our landscape, whether it be wild grass, fallen branches or the light peeking in between. These moments of life are ever changing so I paint quickly, in multiples, on site. I’m interested in how the presence of a place can be built out of many moments, how these moments develop, and the pursuit of their preservation. Paintings emerge on paper and then again on porcelain. I work with thin, translucent porcelain so light peeks through the undergrowth as you sip. I want to scoop up the poetry of a pond and press it into your hands. Through gouache and glaze I chase the light, hoping to capture an image, a feeling, a knowledge contained within these places. I’m curious how a landscape can be abstracted but the feeling can stay true. My work is curiosity. My work is play. My work is deep affection. My work is a love for places and the present.
Arista is an artist with roots in Virginia, currently planted in Philadelphia. They received their Bachelors of Fine Arts in Ceramics from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2023 and have attended residencies at the Fish Factory Creative Centre of Stöðvarfjörður, Iceland, Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts in Maine, and the Peter Bullough Foundation in Virginia. They have shown and sold their work in galleries and at fine art fairs across the US. Painting over delicate forms, Arista uses porcelain as a sketchbook for earnest play with goof and grace.
Instagram: @arista.wilson
