EXHIBITIONS: "Lovelies, Cookies and Beasts (oh my)" and "How Am I Not Myself"

Wilson Arts is excited to present two simultaneous solo exhibitions in the Truist Event Gallery! “Lovelies, Cookies and Beasts (oh my)“will feature the works of Jennifer Clifton, and “How Am I Not Myself” will feature works by Erin Ives.

“Lovelies, Cookies and Beasts (oh my)“
Jennifer’s experiences growing up in Slidell and New Orleans, Louisiana have permeated much of her work. This influence is apparent from her costumed portraits of Mardi Gras revelers to her maximalist blinged out and bedazzled works exploring themes of feminism, anthropomorphic animals and inherent tension in beauty. Much of Jennifer’s work exudes joy and whimsy, although she is now working on large scale mixed media works that represent the flip side of that coin. These works still have an alluring, vibrant and glittering surface, but once the viewer is fully engaged with the works, the underbelly of beauty will rear its head. Her mixed media pieces and paintings have been accepted into both nationally and internationally juried shows. She had a solo show at Rebus Works in Raleigh this year and will have two solo shows in 2025 at The Wilson Art Center and Emerge Gallery in Greenville, NC. Look for her portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh in the January 2025 edition of Walter Magazine.

“How am I not Myself”
Erin Ives has a background in photography and a BFA from Corcoran College of Art and Design. She combines multi-disciplines to create 3-dimensional collages. Her work revolves around portraits of women, nature, and woodworking, the latter being a predominantly male craft, but the work is soaked in a feminist perspective. She uses found materials, image transfers, paint, and organic materials to craft her artwork. The images in Erin’s works are of local female artists and makers, some pieces use materials from the artists that are predominant in their craft. This work is not trying to use photography to document or reveal something specific in the subjects, but to reveal parts of us that we hide and our internal duality. And ask us all the question, "How are we, not ourselves?" Erin is a practicing artist in Raleigh, NC.


We hope you join us on Thursday, June 5 from 5:00-8:00pm with artist’s talks at 6:00 pm. Both exhibitions will be on display until July 10. The opening reception and exhibition are free and open to the public.

Thank you to our generous sponsors: Design Dimensions (a woman owned business!), Tracey Barnes, Cambron Farris, Meg Edwards, Jane Gardner, Carol Kyles, Caprice McNeill, Maureen O’Neill, Lucy Russell- Pittman, Beth Searcy, Pegi Sharp, and Rebecca Tighe!

You may also like the following events from Wilson Arts:

• This Thursday, 22nd May, 05:00 pm, Miniature Masterpieces Fundraiser in Wilson
• Next Saturday, 31st May, 05:30 pm, 2025 ACT! for Youth Edna Awards in Wilson
• Next month, 14th June, 10:30 am, Shibori Scarf Dyeing Workshop with SuSu Gordon in Wilson

Also check out other Arts events in Wilson, Exhibitions in Wilson, Fine Arts events in Wilson.