A Romance Gone Askew: Love in the times of Shara Hughes
Written by Nínive Vargas de la Peña for Sotheby’s Contemporary Curated. March 2022.
So Romantical demonstrates Shara Hughes' interest in the merging of disparate artistic techniques to fabricate a self-governing universe that appears inviting until closely scrutinized. Drawing from collage, the interior is composed of disparate elements generally considered romantic that uneasily sit together and fabricate a vaguely surrealist scene. An early example of her signature style, Hughes mischievously forges a world that coaxes the viewer to look more closely.
“I want them to feel inspired.”
SHARA HUGHES
“Since the beginning I have always been interested in combining different techniques in one that shouldn’t go together. And, how do I make them my own world in a lot of ways out of totally different elements, pieces, patterns and shapes. All different types of painting in one.”
— SHARA HUGHES
DAVID HOCKNEY, LARGE INTERIOR, LOS ANGELES, 1988
© DAVID HOCKNEY © THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NEW YORKDepicting interior elements rose to prominence in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and were widely used by post-impressionist artists. An avid scholar of art history and deeply symbolic artist, Hughes grounds her paintings in this rich tradition and pays homage to notable artists of the previous eras. So Romantic invokes paintings such as L'Atelier Rouge by Henri Matisse and Night Café by Vincent van Gogh with its skewed perspective, eclectic objects, and quiet unease. Although the him and hers lounge chairs, jacuzzi, fireplace, twilight view, and romantic backdrop of Hayez, Il Baccio should add to the allure of the scene, the ensemble distorts any atmosphere of charm. Perhaps more than any other artist, the influence of David Hockney's interiors is particularly notable in So Romantical (2006)through the juxtaposition of decorative elements in calculated distortion, reflecting something deeply personal and heartfelt to the artists themselves.
Though well-establish through a series of smaller gallery exhibitions domestically and internationally, her inclusion in the 2017 Whitney Biennial propelled Hughes to wider attention. Her works are currently featured in the permanent collections of several notable institutions, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Georgia; the Denver Art Museum, Denver; and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, D.C.
Shara Hughes. So Romantical (2006). Private Collection