ART IN THE SANCTUARY | Joan Geary: Reconciled Among the Stars

Exhibition Dates: December 2019 – February 2020

Joan Geary is a lifelong resident of the Chicago area, growing up on the north side, and currently residing in the southwest suburbs. She first studied art as a teenager at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Later, at mid-life, she studied painting and sculpture at the College of Du Page in Glen Ellyn, and also did workshops with several internationally known artists, including one in Italy. Her work has been featured in numerous venues as well as publications such as the Chicago Tribune, The Doings, and the book “Cold Wax Medium: Techniques, Concepts & Conversations” by Rebecca Crowell and Jerry McLaughlin. She maintains a daily painting practice in her studio in Burr Ridge, Il.

Geary is an intuitive painter whose works evolve without any premeditated plan. In the past decade, she has been working mainly in oil and cold wax medium, building the surfaces with layers of paint and gestural marks until the work begins to suggest something meaningful, often spiritual.

As a born again Christian (at the age of 60), Geary states: “More and more, as I draw closer and closer to God, my work is becoming cosmic, evoking a transformation of spirit and mind. I often pray for guidance with the work, and more than anything, I want the end result to glorify Him. Sometimes, my prayers are answered immediately, with an almost ‘automatic writing’ kind of solution to a problematic painting. Many of the current works are inspired by scripture as well as poets such as William Blake and T.S. Eliot. They deal with issues of creation, the nature of time, and salvation.”

Click on each thumbnail to see full-size images from the exhibition.

All works are oil and cold wax on panel unless otherwise noted.