Centers of Meaning—by Q’shaundra James, Anne Skaug, Gabrielle Egnater, Deana Bada Maloney

In fundamental design concepts, faces and figures in images often direct and draw the viewer’s attention. With that in mind, there are a multitude of ways artists express and explore the figures—from loving contemplation to instilling terror. The figures in these works are prominent and direct the viewer’s gaze, serving as the centers of not only attention but also meaning.

Q’shaundra James

My artwork consists of drawing connections between art and literature. Both “Sister Arts” rely on conventional form. While literature uses plot and words to build imagery, painting employs color and design. Known as Ut Pictura Poesis, I utilize portraiture and the works of past and contemporary scholars to express their philosophies. Naturally, the writers I choose have ideologies that coincide with my interests, such as history, individuality, beauty, and black excellence. 

Q’shaundra James was born in Las Vegas, Nevada. She earned bachelor’s degrees in English and fine arts at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Her work has been exhibited in various galleries, such as the Untitled Space in New York and the Palo Verde Art Center in California.

Anne Skaug

I am an American-Norwegian artist exploring notions of lineage, belonging, and home. Employing a wide range of materials, including fibers, encaustics, and found objects, I raise questions about the intersections between gender, labor, the domestic, and lineage. 

Anne Skaug is a Chicago-based artist and educator. In 2023, she graduated with her MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the Fibers program. Her work is interdisciplinary, pulling from her interests in place and connection. 

Gabrielle Egnater

The Ghillie Suit pairs Western fringe with the knotted Jewish ritual fringe known as tzitzit. This pairing stems from the immigration story of Nudie Cohn, the tailor. Cohn, born Nuta Kotlyarenko, was an Eastern European Jew who fled Tsarist Russia. Cohn was able to reinvent himself in 1940’s Hollywood, CA. In this Golden Age of Hollywood, Cohn opened “Nudies of Hollywood” and defined the over-the-top Western aesthetic seen in his iconic designs for stars such as Elvis Presley and Elton John.

Gabrielle Egnater (she/her) is an artist and educator working in Los Angeles, CA. She received her BFA in Visual Critical Studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and her MFA in the Sculpture Dimensional Studies Program at Alfred University.

Deana Bada Maloney

I have been an observer of nature all my life. I am continually awestruck by the beauty of the natural world and the magic and mystery in every living thing. My work is a study of living forms, celebrating the structure of how something is made along with the transcendental presence of the subject. 

I tell a story in each of my pieces using symbolism in found materials that I incorporate into my work, whether it is from the subject’s natural surroundings or a component of the story. I use a method of using oxides during the final firing of my pieces to capture all the marks made in the creation of the piece. This makes my sculptures look like 3D drawings harkening back to my strong drawing roots. 

I have a BFA in Drawing and Painting from the Art Institute of Chicago, with a strong focus on anatomy and scientific illustration. I have found sculpture to be another vehicle for me in which I am able to express the beauty and stories woven into nature and the world around us.