Linda Mitchell

I create animals, both real and imagined. In the narrative paintings and installations, they
become surrogates for human beings and their emotional lives. Some of the figures speak directly to the child within and the vulnerable, delicate places of the viewer’s own past.

My paintings are often highly textured, combining acrylic paint, powdered pigment, paper, photographs, fabric, and found objects. They coalesce into intricate and surreal scenes, reflecting life’s emotional complexity. I find poetic meaning in elements that are broken, castoff, and unassuming. The repurposing of materials lends a sense of history and alludes to the passage of time and the richness of experience. Fabric scraps and other collected detritus are sewn together to create soft sculptures, which act as central figures in the installation pieces.
By working intuitively in diverse media, I layer materials and images to create dream-like
scenarios. This creative process, with all its surprises, is like diving into the psyche and seeing what comes up. Continually arising are reflections of my inner world and personal history, and concerns for social equality and global survival.