We’re Getting to the Good Part with Ingrid V. Wells
We’re Getting to the Good Part
Ingrid V. Wells
60 x 40 inches, oil on linen
“I notice a craving to bring the paintings to places that might otherwise be depressing and challenging. The paintings serve as a form of healing and they are meant for those who are invested in growth. I am focused on working with communities who perhaps are in search of hope, of joy, and who understand those topics for the depth that they hold.” —Ingrid V. Wells
Ingrid V. Wells joined our community back when it all first began, with Equinox, our second print publication. Our curator V.2 was Marjorie Rawle, who was an emerging curator based in the Greater Boston area, She was the former Terrana Assistant Curator at the Fitchburg Art Museum (FAM). Marjorie Rawle is now Gallery Director at Assembly in Houston. At Juniper Rag and around the world, communities play a crucial role in our progress by fostering collaboration, providing support and feedback, and creating networks for artists to share resources and opportunities. Having this active community offers valuable platforms for artists to connect, exchange ideas, and gain exposure, enriching their creative processes and helping them navigate a very busy landscape on and off-line. Juniper Rag works bring new opportunities for artists as well as to amplify their diverse creative voices and perspectives, promoting inclusivity and innovation within our artistic landscape.
With careful and thoughtful custodial responsibility, Marjorie Rawle selected Ingrid V. Wells among a diverse collection of artwork for Equinox. Timely and powerful works were included in the selection as well as work that brought pop-cultural relevance, like Ingrid’s vivid and colorful monochromatic and shiny paintings of candy, which were delicious to look at and on closer examination, had a deeper story to tell. Ingrid V. Wells is a successful contemporary female artist, who bravely faces her days sharing her journey through art and telling lessons of perseverance and positivity.
Ingrid is an important and active artist in our community, as one of our first relationships when we began. We watch her social media and interact with her often and wanted to circle back to share new art and a deepening in her creative journey, from feminism evolving into a deeper connection with herself and her community through art-making. At Juniper Rag we see heightened awareness in recent years, with a noticeable trend in art towards exploring themes of radical self-compassion and promoting public awareness of health and self-care. We see artists like Ingrid V. Wells increasingly using their platforms to challenge societal norms and advocate for mental and physical well-being through their work and exploring the stress, pain and dark places that facing abruptions in health may cause, reflecting a growing cultural shift towards prioritizing self-love, mindfulness, and positive holistic approaches to personal growth, resonating with audiences seeking deeper connections to themselves and others through art.
JR: Tell us about this piece, "We're Getting to the Good Part.”
IVW; The funny thing about living a creative life is embracing the weird, winding path that unfolds before you. Your callings will lead you to strange places and often take you by surprise. It's about being comfortable with being uncomfortable and walking through many long dark tunnels, resting in the knowledge that there is a freaking light at the end.. somewhere.
My work is meant for those who are going through challenging experiences, who are brave enough to look directly at the obstacles they are facing and shine despite them.
I know it can be hard, dear powerhouse. I am cheering you on every step of the way. This new collection centers around supporting the highly ambitious, the driven, those who are brilliant at what they do, but who perhaps need a reminder of how much they have overcome. I have been around women and individuals like this my entire life and find them awe inspiring.
High achievers have the tendency to move right along and go full force into the next round of obstacles. Let this painting serve as a reminder to you, to relish in the wonderful environment you've created, in your manifestations come true, in your dreamy dreams falling directly into your lap. Enjoy the view from your seasoned perspective, having accomplished so much. Delight in the winding path that still remains before you. Your calling to expand, and the rabbit holes you fall down doing so, are all simply material for your memoir. And good God, we wouldn't want that journey to be boring now would we?
The Thing Is
Ingrid V. Wells
60x 40 inches, oil on linen
JR: Where do you see your work going in five years? What are your goals, hopes and dreams for that time?
IVW: My creative path looks like it will involve more writing and speaking. I am in the early stages of developing a podcast. My aim is to further develop the practice of speaking publicly about my work and topics surrounding living a rich, full, creative life. The digital space is where I am seeing my teaching practice heading towards as well. The tug to connect with radiant beings around the globe through the vehicle of verbal communication is pulling at me. It’s a fascinating, “yes, and,” moment for a painter. I’ll let you know how it goes.
My feeling with my practice is that my primary role is to show up and use my hands (with brushes or pen), let it flow through me and essentially get out of the way. In terms of paintings, my desire is to connect the work with those it’s meant to serve. I keep envisioning large scale works in my future.
I notice a craving to bring the paintings to places that might otherwise be depressing and challenging. The paintings serve as a form of healing and they are meant for those who are invested in growth. I am focused on working with communities who perhaps are in search of hope, of joy, and who understand those topics for the depth that they hold.
JR: What innovative approaches have happened over the years?
IVW: There has been a shift in recent years to working on linen. I noticed that I was drawn to working with the fabric beginning in 2019 and now prefer it over all other surfaces.
Linen as a substrate, carries with it this beautiful history of painting into modern day and is considered the highest frequency fabric (along with wool). The way the light reverberates off of the weave is simply divine. It harmonizes with what’s happening on the canvas, weaving together the message of healing in a more synchronistic way. I move with great intention in my paintings, to leave others with a sense of increase. It excites me to be exploring what that means at perhaps an invisible level, more of a felt sensory experience.
For Your Darkest Days, 60 x 40 inches, oil on linen, Ingrid V. Wells
Statement | Emotional Support Paintings Collection
With this collection of oil on linen works, I am painting about the journey of radical self-compassion. It is a fierce rebellion, I consider it pretty punk rock, to stay in your joy when blanketed in seemingly depressing circumstances. With this body of work I am responding to my personal puzzles with the aim of inspiring you to greet your challenges with curiosity. My paintings serve as a visual respite for joyful rebellion in the face of obstacles.
I see my role as a joymaker as needing to comb through everything in my purview, with my Harriet the Spy-style detective magnifying glass, to collect sparks of positive visual experiences. In my artistic process with this series I am seeking out visual notes of enthusiasm, identifying them, focusing on them, and sharing my discoveries. The collection title Emotional Support Paintings acknowledges the need for uplifting support in this moment in America and beyond. My paintings aim to meet the current moment of problem-solving by tapping into a charming, playful and magical energy.
In order to overcome our shared challenges (and we have some big ones mm-kay), we have to become joymakers first, before any other title. It is crucial to be vibrant and visible when doing this work. So I implore you to go down the rabbit hole of following your curiosities. Unlock the video game-style level-up moments within yourself and find delight in where the path takes you. Enjoy having your own, "Rocky-the-Champ," moment when facing your hurdles and growing your capacity for inner peace despite them. It’s crucial work, and it’s crucial we do this together now. Like OMG, right now.
Intergalactic Barbie Takes Flight, Despite Being Told It's Not Possible
Ingrid V. Wells
20 x 16 inches, oil on linen
Ingrid V. Wells is an artist and writer located in Yelamu, also known as San Francisco, on the unceded territories of Ramaytush Ohlone peoples. Wells enjoys using playful subject matter to address complex topics including resilience, compassion, abundance, joy and being. Her artwork has been exhibited in New York at the Untitled Space and PxP Contemporary, PULSE Miami with Treat Gallery, in San Francisco with Voss Gallery, internationally in Cork, Ireland at The Lord Mayor’s Pavilion and in South Korea at the CICA Museum.
Her work has been featured by The Jealous Curator, The Huffington Post, Daily Mail, BUST Magazine, Create! Magazine, and Teen Vogue, among others. Her oil painting was invited to be featured in El País representing the international women’s movement in 2019. Wells directs TWIRL: A Decade of Artists Interviews, a 10 year annual interview project. She was awarded a Certificate of Honor from the City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors in October 2020 for her leadership in the arts, and is a multiple-time grant recipient from the Center for Cultural Innovation.
Her artwork has been featured on SFMOMA’s instagram and in May of 2022, Create! Magazine named Wells #7 on the list of Top 15 Emerging Artists to Follow on Social Media. You are welcome to visit her on social. Wells was recently interviewed on the New Visionary Podcast with Victoria J. Fry on How to Bring More Joy & Self-Compassion into Your Art Practice.
Ingrid V. Wells
San Francisco, California
Find Ingrid
Ingrid V. Wells
ingridvwells@gmail.com
Instagram: @ingridvwells
Upcoming Exhibitions and Features
TWIRL: A Decade of Artist Interviews - Season Five Now LIVE
Wild | The Art Queens | January 2024
Paradigm Arts Building | Philadelphia, PA 19106
Emerging Woman Artist Award | January 2024
Arts To Hearts Project | Virtual, based in India
Contemporary Perspectives
Exhibition Curated by IVW | February 29 - April 7th, 2024
The Lord Mayor's Pavilion | Cork, Ireland
INFLUX
March 21, 2024 - Sunday, May 12, 2024, 5 pm | Reception: Friday, March 22, 2024, 5-8 pm
Museum of Northern California Art (MONCA), Chico, CA 95927
