You can find modern paintings in Chicago by many figurative artists, but not many as quirky as Wisconsin born, Terri Hallman. She is an extraordinarily driven and innovative artist. For Hallman, her art is in the process itself, which she regards as the essence of her work. On the surface, the work may appear simple, yet there is considerable emotional depth inherent in the artist’s multi-layered approach.
Terri begins her work with stick figures on paper. The loose and somewhat abstract forms act as a matrix for the composition. She then begins the laborious process of rubbing dry pigment (by hand) into the paper. Between the layers of pigment, she marks off sections with tape and leaves other areas unmasked. The process is repetitive, in essence “revealing and discovering the nature of the subject.” The creative pace is intense and very hands-on; the result is supersaturated hues and curiously crude textures. In her own words: “It is the layers that expose the passage of time, how some things are covered up and how others are revealed.”
Hallman also employs symbolic elements in her works, assigning meaning to simple objects. A pea depicts nothingness, while a horse epitomizes freedom. One familiar element in her paintings is a bird, often perched on a shoulder, representing the trusted companion.
Terri Hallman’s whimsical, figurative paintings are widely collected and featured in galleries throughout the US, Canada and Great Britain. As a top Chicago contemporary art gallery, Art Post Gallery exclusively represents Hallman’s work in the Chicago area.
