Christopher Grimes Gallery is pleased to announce a solo exhibition of new works by Sharon Ellis, her ninth with the gallery since 1993. In her latest body of work, Ellis explores the patterns and rhythms of nature as metaphors for endings, loss and ultimate renewal. Blue Hour, the title of both the exhibition as well as a work in the show, refers to the time of day when the sun has disappeared from the sky, yet light still remains. These words acknowledge the sadness of the loss of the day, while taking refuge in the hope that lives on in the emerging stars.

Continuing her recent trajectory of creating smaller, more intimate works on paper, Ellis’s paintings embody the solace that can be found in nature and the reminder that new life continually replaces that which has passed on. In several works, trees with bare branches are paired with new growth and a gentle wind that sweeps through the landscapes, hinting at the possibility of change, renewal and of life waiting to emerge.

Working in multiple layers of transparent glazes, Ellis’s paintings are the result of a meticulous and time-consuming process. Much like nature itself, Ellis’s practice is unhurried and conscientious, resulting in paintings that hum with the vibrant spirit of the natural world.

Sharon Ellis lives and works in Yucca Valley, CA. She was recently included in the group exhibitions Explode Every Day: An Inquiry into the Phenomena of Wonder at MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA (2016); Experience 19: Touch at the El Segundo Museum of Art, El Segundo, CA (2015), and her work was also featured in Eden’s Edge: Art in L.A. at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA (2007) and POPulence (2005), curated by David Pagel, which traveled throughout the United States. The Long Beach Museum of Art organized a ten-year survey of Ellis’ work in 2002 entitled Evocations, which traveled to the Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH and San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA. Ellis was also included in Flower Power at Palais des Beaux-Arts in Lille, France.