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    Columbus Makes Art Presents Elizabeth Miller Kicking Off 2023 with Debut Solo Show, Fixed Gaze


    "It's really important for me that everybody can freely engage and connect with my art."
— Elizabeth Miller, Painter

    “It’s really important for me that everybody can freely engage and connect with my art.”

    — Elizabeth Miller, Painter

    Elizabeth Miller is a painter based in the Franklinton Arts District who will be kicking off the 2023 exhibition season with Fixed Gaze at the Bridge Gallery in 400 West Rich. The exhibition will be on view from Jan. 13 through Feb. 4.

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    Johnny: Tell me about your artistic journey thus far.
    Elizabeth: I had an interest in art from a young age. In high school, I was the star art student, you know, one of those kids. After graduation, I attended CCAD. In my junior year, I began to find my style. I credit my growth to [CCAD Fine Arts Chair] Tim Rietenbach. He pushed me to think about my work beyond technique. I shifted from making representational work to what I’m making now, which is more focused on what it means to look at something, not what you’re looking at.

    Johnny: You use repetitive geometric shapes in most of your work. How are you utilizing these to explore different aspects of perception?
    Elizabeth: Rather than going super abstract with my shapes, I like to keep my shapes familiar and pretty rudimentary. It makes it feel more math and science-based if I have that idealized geometry. Idealized geometry is used in math to simplify things. Also, I like to research and use different theories in my work. One is simultaneous contrast. That is when a color might appear different based on the color next to it.

    Another theory that I’m interested in is shape constancy. If you are looking at a doorframe from multiple angles, it doesn’t appear as a rectangle because of the perspective, but your mind simplifies it to make your experience easier. You still perceive it to be the same shape. We see things in the world that are complicated but, somewhere between our eyes and brain, things are simplified.

    Johnny: There is a level of accessibility that you seek to provide in your artwork, but there is intentionality behind all of it.
    Elizabeth: Yeah, it’s really important for me that everybody can freely engage and connect with it. Now, I’m not saying that work that isn’t widely accessible is ‘less than.’ But for me, I want people to see it and realize that, despite our differences, we can still connect to the same thing.

    Johnny: That accessibility aspect is one of the reasons that you’re now going to have your first solo exhibition. You were selected as the Scrawl 16 Audience Favorite. How does that feel to receive that recognition?
    Elizabeth: I’m honestly shocked. I really was not expecting it. Sometimes I get discouraged because there’s so much illustrative, representational work. I look at those artists and think, “Am I doing something wrong?” But that gave me a confidence boost. Like people are really liking it.

    Elizabeth Miller - Red Circles.
    Elizabeth Miller – Red Circles.
    Elizabeth Miller - Circles and Squares.
    Elizabeth Miller – Circles and Squares.

    Johnny: This will be your first solo show after graduating from CCAD. What is your hope out of this experience?
    Elizabeth: I’m interested to see how my individual pieces interact with each other. They become a group that is its own thing rather than a collection of separate paintings. They’ll communicate in a different way. I’ll be really excited to see what ideas I get after having everything in here and the next steps in my creative process.

    Johnny: What’s the best thing about the Columbus art scene right now?
    Elizabeth: I think it’s involving people that aren’t usually involved in art. I love that the Franklinton Arts District and 400 West Rich opens up their doors to the public once a month for Franklinton Fridays. It lets people come in and see what people are working on. Also, the public art. It seems like there’s a bigger push to create more art that is accessible and beautifies neighborhoods. I really love that about Columbus and I’m excited to add my mural at Scrawl 17.

    Feature image artwork – Red & Green Synergy.

    Explore Elizabeth Miller’s artwork at the Bridge Gallery (400 West Rich, Franklinton, 43215) at the opening reception at Franklinton Fridays, Jan. 13, 2023, from 6-10 p.m. Admission is free and refreshments will be available. Fixed Gaze will be on view through Feb. 4 by appointment. To learn more and book your appointment, visit franklintonartsdistrict.com.

    Columbus Makes Art Presents is a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council – supporting and advancing the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. The column is a project of the Art Makes Columbus campaign, telling the inspiring stories of the people and organizations who create Columbus art. Learn more about local artists, organizations, public art and events at ColumbusMakesArt.com.

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    Johnny Riddle
    Johnny Riddlehttp://www.franklintonartsdistrict.com/
    Johnny Riddle is Executive Director at Franklinton Arts District.
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