Lindsey Waters

Artist Statement

I have been fixated with color theory, shapes, and repetition for as long as I can remember. I create mixed media abstract collages using acrylic paints and alcohol inks, as well as watercolor and gouache. I start with nonobjective textured paintings on a plastic paper called Yupo and then precisely cut them up into tiny linear strips or square pieces. I then rearrange the pieces and often use multiple paintings in one collage, oftentimes the pieces are woven or overlap with several layers. At the heart of my practice lies a fascination with the dynamics of color: its ability to provoke, soothe, and intrigue. My art process is a celebration of improvisation and intuition, where each cut and placement serves as a brushstroke in a larger narrative.

By blending bold hues and intricate patterns, I seek to capture fleeting moments of emotion and evoke a sense of wonderment in the viewer. Influenced by the principles of abstract expressionism and the spontaneity of collage, I seek to evoke emotions that transcend the confines of conventional representation. The juxtaposition of colors, textures, and shapes mirrors the complexity of human experience. It is a recognition of my impulsiveness, where each strip represents a portion of thought, memory, or emotion woven together to form a textile of visual poetry. My artwork delves into the interplay between chaos and structure, utilizing a unique medium of multiple abstract paintings. Each piece is a testament to the beauty found in fragmentation, where restored remnants are meticulously arranged to form new narratives and visual landscapes.

In my collages the boundaries between abstraction and representation blur, as familiar shapes and colors converge in unexpected but intriguing ways. They are an invitation to explore the dynamic interplay of hue and form, forging connections between the tangible and the abstract realms of perception. The composition possibilities are endless and each painted fragment represents a moment of intuition and discovery. I love the process of making paintings and cutting them up, it is a meditative and introspective methodology. Through this process, I aim to challenge conventional perceptions of art and reality and by deconstructing traditional painting into its elemental parts, I invite viewers to contemplate the structure of creation and existence itself. By re-contextualizing these pieces of my paintings I want to inspire viewers to reconsider their perceptions of art and its potential for evolution. Ultimately, my work serves as a testament to the transformative power of artistic experimentation and the endless possibilities that are achievable.

Biography

Lindsey Waters is a contemporary abstract collage artist living and working in Shreveport, LA. She graduated with her BFA in Studio Art from LA Tech in 2012. She makes highly detailed and intricate collages with original paintings that are cut into small strips ¼” or smaller. She uses acrylic paints, watercolor, various alcohol inks, and other texture making materials on Yupo paper to create the paintings that will be used as the collage strips. She is inspired by her mother and grandmother who practiced quilting, cross-stitching and various crafts while she was growing up. She uses her tiny strips of painted paper to collage to get back to those similar techniques of rhythmic and meditative work. Her collages are meticulously placed in random patterns and compositions including woven designs. The themes of her work include the impact of change, reincarnation, impulsivity and improvisation. Her work explores this interest for transformation and the beauty found in creation out of destruction.

Every collage is a transformation of multiple nonobjective paintings, each one a unique study of color combinations with a myriad of shapes and textures. Her collages are heavily process oriented with change and transience being marked themes. She meticulously collages the pieces impulsively and spontaneously and employs highly articulated and psychological use of color. Her collages are inspired by many abstract artists such as Mark Bradford, Mondrian, Lee Krasner, Willem de Kooning and Tara Donovan. She recently exhibited her collage ‘Elucidate’ at her alma mater Louisiana Tech for the 2024 7th Louisiana National Biennial -‘Timelapse’ from January 22nd- February 20th 2024. She also participated in this years Critical Mass 12 in Shreveport, LA at ArtSpace- April 25th- June 18th. The main thread in all her artwork is the color and process that go into each piece as well as its transformative nature. Lindsey continues to push the boundaries of abstract art, inviting viewers to experience the interplay of form and color in new and unexpected ways.

Sunlight_2023_Acrylic and watercolor paint on Yupo paper on wood w/Resin_4 x 4 inches
Abyssal_2023_Acrylic paint and Alcohol Ink Yupo paper on wood w/Resin_10 x10 inches
Cherry Bomb_2024_Acrylic paints on Yupo paper on wood_4 x 4 inches
Ephemeral_2024_Acrylic paints on Yupo paper on wood_4 x 4 inches
Lunar_2023_Acrylic paint on Yupo paper on wood_4 x 4 inches
Parabolic Dunes_2024_Acrylic paints on Yupo paper on wood_4 x 4 inches
Pineapple_2024_Acrylic paints on Yupo paper on wood_4 x 4 inches
Rainbow Falls_2024_Acrylic paints on Yupo paper on wood_8 x 8 inches
Serendipity_2024_Acrylic paint and alcohol inks on Yupo on wood_24 x 36 inches
Spirit Line_2024_Woven acrylic paint on yupo on wood_8 x 8 inches
Elucidate_2023_Acrylic paint and watercolor on yupo on wood_24 x 24 inches