Holly Ann Friesen

My art practice allows me to connect with people and place in a unique way. The process for me starts with an overall concept of place, followed by an examination of light and perspective in abstraction with shape, colour and composition.

The concept involves taking familiar subject matter and creating something new while maintaining a connection to the familiar. The focal point of the finished piece is often the space around the traditional subject matter. The light or negative space becomes the dominant feature.

I am intrigued by the idea of challenging the audience to see more than the original object or inspiration – to overcome intuition and encourage people to think more deeply about what they are seeing.

My passion for science and the arts plays a role in my process. I use the interplay between these fields and mindsets in creating art. Prior to my career in the arts, I was a scientific researcher in the field of genetics and plant breeding. The specific field I was involved in required a great deal of creativity and examination of concepts in the abstract. I apply these abstract concepts to my art practice, where subject matter is examined and expressed at a micro and macroscopic level, leading to the overall imagery.

The imagery created is abstracted and expressionist - in that my goal is to create an emotional reaction without physically replicating or defining the place that inspired it.