Raised in a renovated tobacco barn in a rural town outside of Northampton, Massachusetts, Genevieve May was born the daughter of accomplished artists and authors, Dennis Nolan and Lauren Mills. Genevieve remembers many formative trips to museums, art classes, and gallery openings. As a child she studied classical drawing and painting with her parents and later studied figure drawing under accomplished artist, Hollis Dunlap at Lyme Academy all before the age of fifteen. Upon entering high school she took credited college courses in egg tempera painting and in addition, studied watercolor and fresco painting in Europe with Jeremiah Patterson and Fred Wessel. In 2014, Genevieve studied color theory with Graydon Parrish who very much became a mentor to her in the years to come. Upon finishing her certification in color theory, she studied cadaver life drawing with Michael Grimaldi at Stamford University. Here she was able to practice the old renaissance tradition of dissecting human bodies in order to improve figurative drawing skills. She attributes her knowledge and deep understanding of the human form to this intensive with Grimaldi.
This international influence deeply informs her innovative approach to art today. Upon graduating with a degree in Fine Art and Illustration from the Hartford Art School she painted for the renowned pop artist Jeff Koons, while also apprenticing for Brad Kunkle. Her apprenticeship with Kunkle gave her knowledge and skills in gilding which later became an influence in her work.
Genevieve’s works have been published in the various publications including the Artist Renewal Center, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine and the American Art Collector. She has participated in group shows as well as solo shows in both museums and galleries around the world.
Artist Statement:
I currently reside in New York City and have a studio in Brooklyn. When I am not designing clothes for reference for my paintings, I am most likely traveling and working with various models throughout the world.
My paintings are heavily influenced by fashion and performing arts. I am drawn to art forms that are ephemeral yet I want to stop them in time; this is what paintings can do. Performance art is so moving because of the pressures of time, for a moment we are a part of a world that moves us but the reality is, it is fleeting. Visual art such as painting, sculpture and photography has the opposite ability, to stop time, to preserve a memory, to record history. When we look at a painting we see the full story in front of us, there is no beginning or end, it is only when we choose to walk away that the work comes to its finale. With any performance we witness, there is a definite beginning and a definite ending, dictated by the art itself, not by the viewer.
I find the differences between the two to be fascinating. I love this harmony of combining an art form that is fleeting with one that is time stopping.
My process has many layers and takes time to fully form. For the most part, each painting that comes to fruition has a back story involving a dress that I’ve designed and made by hand or a song that I’ve composed or recorded. I feel that my art forms support one another in this way. I cannot imagine painting an image from just being visually inspired. I am a tactile person so as a result I feel drawn to making something tangible, something I can touch and adorn my models in. I feel this personalizes the story and makes the process more authentic. I very much enjoy the process of creating so I never feel it is a waste of time or unnecessary to go the extra mile in setting a strong creative foundation. I will find materials that one wouldn’t ordinarily think to make a dress out of and begin to piece together an outfit that feels other worldly, bizarre and textural.
There are other paintings that have been inspired merely from making music. I feel that music provides us with an immediate emotional response. People have often told me that I need to focus on one craft, tighten up my process by eliminating impractical or what might seem like a time consuming contribution towards the final work of art. People have commented that I make unnecessary hassles for myself, that I should cut corners, but for me, “behind the scenes” work is what makes the process so rewarding and adds authenticity to my final creations.
I have always felt a broad love and appreciation for all art forms, and I admit it has taken some time to not only combine them into one, but also to be consistent in my delivery. I feel it is too limiting to focus solely on one technique. I think it is important for artists to be open to allowing the exploration of other art forms to inspire their main craft. I find that the artistic diversity is more interesting to collectors. People purchase my paintings because they like how my work makes them feel; they always want to know the story behind it all and they enjoy the multi layers of combining fashion and music.
