Shooting Gallery is pleased to present “Ritual”, new works by Charmaine Olivia.

The opening reception will be on January 14th from 7-11pm and this exhibit will be on display from January 14-February 4, 2012

Charmaine Olivia has long explored the female form through fantasy, surrealistic imagery, juxtaposed with touches of absolute realism. In her first ever solo show in San Francisco,... [read more]

Shooting Gallery is pleased to present “Ritual”, new works by Charmaine Olivia.

The opening reception will be on January 14th from 7-11pm and this exhibit will be on display from January 14-February 4, 2012

Charmaine Olivia has long explored the female form through fantasy, surrealistic imagery, juxtaposed with touches of absolute realism. In her first ever solo show in San Francisco, Ritual explores the themes of magic and earth energies within a series of imagined females from a mythology of the artist’s own creation. The gallery will be transformed into a temple of altars for each of Olivia’s demigods; each surrounded by installations magical items, and other smaller artworks that pay homage to the central female. The opening reception for Ritual will be held at The Shooting Gallery on Saturday, January 14, 2012 from 7-11pm. The exhibit will be on display through February 4, 2012 and is free and open to the public.

In preparation for Ritual, Olivia has investigated mankind’s past cultural religious beliefs, and has incorporated everything from astrological symbolism to druid magic into her work. Her females represent power and strength within their particular realm of existence, similar to the gods of early polytheistic Greece. Translucent skin reveals skeletal forms in some, while waves of hair reveal bewitching flowers on others. Ritual aims to take the viewer on a journey through the Olivia’s own mythology, while traversing emotions that reside deep within our own subconscious.

Olivia’s luminous portraits are almost haunting in their beauty. Adorned with decorative bones, flowers, and feathers, Olivia’s figures appear regal, embodying a bold and fearless grace. With untamed hair and sensual poses, there is a wildness to these beauties that seems caged in. The lush surface of the oil-painted canvases seems like a thin barrier between us and the striking women at their center.

You can find more about the work of Charmaine Olivia, here: www.charmaineolivia.com

Stay updated with the work of Charmaine Olivia on her Facebook page here:https://www.facebook.com/CharmaineOliviaArt

If you are interested in purchasing any of the works for sale in this show visit www.shootinggallerysf.com or contact justin@shootinggallerysf.com directly.


-photo by Eva Kolenko