The South Arkansas Arts Center will present a selection of paintings by El Dorado native and emerging artist Emmaline Landes from her BFA Thesis, “Hidden in a Handbag,” completed at the University of Mississippi.
SAAC will host an opening reception for the artist on Monday from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., with the exhibit on view in the Lobby Gallery from June 2-27.
Landes’ work delves into the nuanced experience of navigating a world where women are relentlessly pressured to embody perfection and conceal their imperfections, according to a press release. Through her vivid oil paintings, she explores how societal molds impose expectations on women, often masking their authentic selves behind curated images of polished perfection.
The series uniquely features the contents of spilled purses — objects shared by friends, family and herself — that serve as raw, unfiltered portraits of personal narratives. By magnifying these everyday items, Landes invites viewers to confront the vulnerability and stories hidden beneath the surface. The chaotic, overlapping compositions — rendered in bright, youthful colors — subvert superficial appearances, challenging viewers to question notions of authenticity versus societal façades.
“Ultimately, my paintings seek to unravel the complexities of female identity,” Landes explains. “As the contents of our purses are spilled, so too are the incredible stories of the women that carry them.”
Her work underscores the tension between private realities and public personas, emphasizing that beneath the masks we wear lies a rich tapestry of lived experience, the press release stated.
A graduate of the University of Mississippi with a focus on photorealism, Landes is passionate about exploring new styles, materials and concepts to push her artistic boundaries. She will begin her MFA studies at Southern Methodist University this fall. Her art draws heavily from feminist theory, aiming to foster conversations about societal expectations, authenticity and personal identity.
Join SAAC for the opening reception on June 2 to experience Landes’ thought-provoking exploration of womanhood and societal pressure. The exhibit promises an engaging visual journey into the stories we carry — and conceal.
The SAAC galleries, located at 110 East Fifth Street in El Dorado, are free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit saac-arts.org or call SAAC at 870-862-5474.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
