Polly Gilroy’s constructions encourage her audience to question the boundaries of traditional painting. Embracing the point of transition between sculpture and painting, she binds the two through multi-faceted structures. Gilroy responds to the complexities of colour through nuanced hues which are further enhanced by her skilful manipulation of translucence and light. Demarcating space, her works often bring the support structures into the composition, stripping the formal elements of the painting down to ist very core.
Otautahi Christchurch-based artist Polly Gilroy graduated with a BFA from Massey University, Wellington in 2017. Since then, she has exhibited across Aotearoa, New Zealand, notably at PG Gallery192, Christchurch, and Foenander Galleries, Auckland. She was a finalist in the Zonta Female Art Awards, Ashburton Art Gallery in both 2020 and 2021.
'This collection of work reflects observations from my surroundings, an attempt to mirror light shifts and the intrusion of darkness as day seeps into night. Often negotiating the confines of structure, bringing the support frame into the formal composition, I am encouraging viewers to look through and beyond. The skewed works play on perspective, mimicking the angled shadows found when windows cast light into space. These unique compositions are constantly changing throughout the day, travelling from wall to wall. I have been exploring how to manipulate the work’s reading by playing with opacity, gradient and shade transition. Considered colour relationships that hum with an inner glow.' - Polly Gilroy