FEATURED ARTIST GALLERY
Yvonne J. Swanson

Sometimes I wish I were starting with a pile. A big heap of wood, fabric, forks, questions, nails, paint, letters, needles, soap, and some other things that would soon smell like hard work and make that sort of noise.
This pile I could slowly, then quickly, transform over time. Changing each item, but taking care that I, and they, would resemble their starting point. This pile of stones and sticks, of sweat and tears, of thinking and labor, of ink and knives, stitching and walking, would shift, and morph, and become another pile. And this new, different pile, I could call: “Finished”.
Song in my head: Foo Fighters All My Life
Favorite number: 23
Yvonne J. Swanson is an artist who was born and raised in Seattle and currently lives in Salt Lake City. While primarily a painter, Yvonne works in various media. Her work addresses “anxiety and everyday life” or transforming the energy of fear through the process of making art.
“Rather than allowing this energy to paralyze me, I have tried to use it productively. Using the energy that Fear seems to willingly provide to get art made, has led me to make art about Fear.”
BFA Earned 2000
Emphasis- Painting
MFA Earned 2006
Emphasis- Fear/Anxiety
Existing
"An ongoing series of narrative paintings... exploring
the difference between being physically or mentally present."
Song in my head: Radiohead How To Disappear Completely
PUPPETS
"Giving a face to specific fears."
Songs in my head: Tori Amos Mr. Zebra and Bjork Hyperballad
Astrological: Virgo Sun Aquarius Moon Scorpio Rising Mercury in Leo
Erotica
"...a desire to get back to the figure, or abstracting it, inspired this ongoing series of work."
Songs in my head PJ Harvey Oh My Lover and Ben Kweller On My Way