“My paintings tell me what they want, and I have to listen.”
Warped and wild dreamworlds, alive with emotion and nostalgia.
Alake Shilling’s dreamlike creations envelop viewers in comfort and nostalgia. Cast from her unique imagination into vibrant paintings and ceramics, Shilling’s wide-eyed characters - which include dogs, cats, ladybirds, rabbits and even Minnie Mouse - reveal the barefaced expressions of youth. The Chicago Imagists and Californian Funk Art have had a notable impact on the artist, both movements active during the 1960s and 70s and known for their energetic compositions and colour palettes. Shilling is also inspired by contemporary painters such as Ida Ekblad and Rebecca Morris, as well as nature...
Bio
Alake Shilling was born in 1993 in Los Angeles, California, where she continues to live and work.
Exhibitions
The Hippest Trip in America - By Land, Air and Sea, her first-ever New York solo show, opened at Jeffrey Deitch Gallery in September 2021 - a “groovy journey of self-discovery” inspired by legendary children’s TV show Soul Train.
Collaborations
Commissioned by Disney to create a rendition of Minnie Mouse for Mickey: The True Original, an exhibition in New York City celebrating the iconic character's 90th birthday.
