alanamcartwright@gmail.com
Artist Bio
Alana Cartwright (b. 1999) is a multidisciplinary, visual artist based in Cleveland, Ohio. Having earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Cleveland State University in 2021, she subsequently pursued further studies at the Cleveland Institute of Art during the 2021-2022 academic year. With a diverse skill set encompassing various artistic media, Alana showcases exceptional proficiency in photography and drawing, which serve as her primary focuses. Her work has both a figurative and conceptual approach in capturing the intricacies and multifaceted nature of the human condition.
Alana’s work was most recently exhibited at Galerie Joseph Le Palais in Paris and Soho Photo Gallery in New York (NY) in 2023. As a recipient of the Visual Art Merit Scholarship at Cleveland State University, she also showcased work in both 2019 and 2021 for the Merit Scholar Exhibition at the Galleries @ CSU. In 2021, Alana had a solo exhibition for her body of work, “Clothed in Resilience” at the Massillon Museum. The exhibition’s profound impact lead to the museum acquiring the accompanying photography book for their valued permanent collection.
Artist’s Statement
At its core, my work revolves around figurative portraiture and explores the connection between subjects and their surroundings. Through deliberate posing, I aim to convey deep emotion and vulnerability within the human form. By manipulating colors and textures in the surrounding environment, I further enhance these expressions and create a visual representation of the intended feeling.
My inspiration stems from the intricacies of the human condition, seeking to capture and convey the complexities of our experiences. I purposely allow a sense of ambiguity to permeate the work, allowing viewers to embrace a distinct and personal interpretation of it. Drawing from personal encounters, often derived from challenging or painful situations, I endeavor to create beauty from adversity.
This serves as both a reminder and a testament that pain and healing are interwoven aspects of human existence. Navigating our trials, we have the capacity to unearth hope ultimately leading to a transformative experience of reconciliation and liberation.