Eileen Ferara
Eileen Ferara is a multidisciplinary visual artist whose work is focused on our human relationship to the environment. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, she creates paintings, prints, sculptures and installations based on observation, research and imagination. Ferara’s work has been included in many exhibits in the United States, including a recent solo exhibit at The Hutchins Galleries in Lawrenceville NJ. She was a recent artist-in-resident at Guttenberg Arts, and a 2024 Winter Liquitex resident artist. In 2022 she received a Jersey City Arts and Culture Individual Artist Fellowship, and a Puffin Foundation grant for an ongoing paper making project. In 2019 Ferara completed an art residency at Fire Island National Seashore in New York and was an artist-in-residence with the Eileen S. Kaminsky Family Foundation at Mana Contemporary in Jersey City. Her work is in the collection of the William Paterson University Galleries, Memorial Sloan Kettering, The Lawrenceville School, The King St Stephens Museum of Hungary, and numerous private collections.
Ferara has been a teaching artist and independent curator for over 10 years. She has an MFA from the School of Visual Arts, and a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. Born in the Bronx, Ferara currently lives and works in Jersey City.
Proposal
During my time as a Fou Gallery resident I would like to create a series of paintings on paper, inspired by the plants and other organisms I encounter on location in and around Tulum. Iplan to create 5 pieces that are approx 22 x 30 in. along with three larger works at approximately 3 x 4 ft. My artwork is created using a variety of media, including acrylics, printmaking, and pencil. The content shifts from abstract to figurative as I blend memory, emotion, time and research in my paintings, and installations. The work invites viewers to consider our place in nature not as separate, but as part of an intimate web of life.
Much of my work is rooted in time spent observing the natural world. Immersing myself into nature is deeply meaningful to me as an artist, and I seek out ways to feel connected to the wider environment. I’m fascinated by how habitats change, such as the transition from the forest environment to the coast, the cohabitation of different plants and animals in the ecosystem, and the impact of the human built environment. I consider this aspect of my work as artistic field research. I take photos, make sketches and often collect items to bring back to my work space, from seed pods and shells, to plastic and other garbage I find. I’m excited to discover the unique ecosystem that exists in Tulum. While I will focus on my time in the environment, and creating the works on paper, I would also love the opportunity to connect to the community and learn about ways the people rely on the plants and other organisms in the ecosystem. Experiencing the knowledge of the indigenous community would expand my understanding of the local nature in new and unexpected ways and enrich my creative process.
