Tatiana Escallón: The “I” in Immigration, Opens July 12

Anya Tish Gallery is excited to present a pop-up exhibition, The “I” in Immigration, by Colombian-born, Houston-based artist Tatiana Escallón. Comprised of vibrant large format, multi-media abstract paintings and highly textural, saturated works on paper, this exhibition explores Escallón’s personal experience of immigration by reflecting deeply on various aspects of her identity as a woman living between contrasting cultures.

A significant component of Escallón’s identity is intertwined with the historic colonial architectural structures of Bogotá, Colombia. These architectural forms boast organic roofs characterized by dynamic lines, serving as an endless wellspring of vital inspiration for the artist’s creative pursuits and as a platform for fostering discussions about immigration. The rural rooftops, with their occasional lack of symmetry and inherent dynamism, have fueled Escallón’s imagination and guided the development of this body of work which reflects upon the memory of her personal experiences of displacement and adaptation within a modern city.

Utilizing acrylic, oil, rubber, and spray paints combined with such tactile elements as thread, wood, and graphite, Escallón’s multi-media paintings and works on paper contain an energy that pulsates throughout the work, prompting the viewer to discover the intricacies and vitality that emanate from these abstract compositions.

The artist seeks to initiate conversations about the transformative impact experienced by migrants and the contributions they make to their new environments. Through these visually compelling works, Escallón aims to facilitate reflections that deepen the understanding of how displacement can catalyze new ideas and lead to evolved development, emphasizing the importance of empathy born from embracing diversity.