Paula Roland

My work explores the interplay between order and chaos, where the beauty of nature's patterns emerges from seemingly random systems. Inspired by my childhood fascination with the natural world, I seek connections between the vastness of my surroundings and my inner landscape. Through a process of intuition and experimentation, I blend materials that often resemble aerial views or maps of personal and metaphorical landscapes. These often reveal the scars of both nature and self. By exploring the intersection of the natural and the human, I aim to evoke a sense of wonder at the complexity and beauty of our world. In mid-2023, a shoulder injury led me to a new way of painting using ink. I laid the paper on the floor, used an elongated brush, and held my arm close to my body as I walked across the paper and painted. This method offers a fresh perspective on moving through nature, space, and time. This unplanned approach produced unexpected, quirky marks instead of my typical fluid gestures. With their angular markings, these paintings resemble ancient runes, used for divination and as a portal to the intuitive wisdom and magic of ancient worlds. My Rune paintings are also reminiscent of ancient maps, and wayfinding on my artistic journey. I invite viewers to engage with the complex relationships between nature, human activity, and the unseen forces that shape our world.

Paula Roland's diverse works, presented in her 25 solo exhibitions, include shows in Houston, Dallas, New Orleans, Santa Fe, Taos, and Scottsdale. France, and at the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum. Honors include endowed commissions from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the US Department of State's permanent collections in Uganda and South Africa; fellowships to attend artist residencies in Virginia, Auvillar, France, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, and two at the Santa Fe Art Institute, where she studied with Lynda Benglis and Elizabeth Murray. Paula pioneered the Encaustic Monotype process, bringing it to wide popularity through her teaching, innovative works on paper, and translucent back-lit print installations. An internationally recognized teacher and lecturer, she has taught encaustics in Italy, France, and across the US. In Santa Fe, Roland was represented by Conlon-Siegal Gallery, William Siegal Gallery, and Chiaroscuro, as well as with representation in Tucson, Scottsdale, and New Orleans. In Dallas, Roland exhibits with Smink Art and Design. Originally from the Gulf Coast and New Orleans, Paula resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

2-D, Collage/Mixed Media, Painting (all materials)