Carole d'Inverno's Gallery

History is central to my work.

I immigrated from Europe to the United States as a young woman. I saw the disparity

in wealth, the gun violence, the racial tension, but also the familial interactions in

close-knit communities, the pride in country, the belief in ‘everything is possible’.

I turned to history to understand the contradictions.

I travel quite a lot in the US and have seen many changes since the late ’70s. From the

brake-neck expansion of the suburbs, to the emptying of Main Streets, the decline of

the industrial cities of the North, and the population explosion of the Sun Belt,

America keeps morphing. In contrast with my upbringing, the country seems to be in

constant motion. Jobs, homes, families, neighborhoods, wealth, all can change in a

blink of time. How can I understand these phenomenas? What is behind them? What

do they have in common? Instead of trying to grasp the whole picture at once, I focus

on regional history. Each community I study and render in paintings and drawings

adds to my understanding.

To prepare for a new series I visit the local communities. I take in the scenery and

spend time with locals. I listen to stories, go to museums and art centers, look at

monuments, read at the local library, and even peruse restaurant menus! I consult

maps, photos, relevant books, and fill sketchbooks with notes and drawings. A unique

picture starts developing in my mind. In the studio my intuition takes the lead and I let

the facts, places, and local stories coalesce in my mind. The data is humanized.

Paintings and drawings naturally reflect the community, and its people. Each new

series becomes part of the whole and teaches me more.

We all have stories to tell.