Olivia Harwood is a young artist, in her last semester as a BFA Painting student at PacificNorthwest College of Art. Raised in the Midwest, now based in Portland, Oregon, Harwood takes much inspiration from her current environment, previous surroundings and childhood upbringing.
Our memories of past experiences are always influencing us. They constantly change our opinions and choices. Harwood empowers herself by portraying her body through painting in exposed positions, such as confronting uncomfortable histories, challenging developed rituals, and reflecting on emotional shames and adolescent dilemmas. Harwood intends to show specific memories by incorporating objects, figures and cartoons conveyed by patterns, fields of color and detail oriented moments. The information and themes that she decides to incorporate in her work has to do with direct memories she has with growing up in her childhood home. It stems from every room that she spent time in and multiple sources of information. The living room brought media, television, celebration, Halloween and Christmas. The bedroom has brought nightmares, secretive habits, individuality and fully expressive emotions. The kitchen had brought intrusive thoughts, conversation, math homework and traditional dinners. Harwood wants her audience to be able to connect their own memories to relatable images and icons within her work, it isn’t just personal for her, but for them too.
