GJ Gillespie
Utilizing abstracted figurative forms to highlight vulnerabilities held in the human condition, GJ Gillespie’s work explores the fragility of consciousness and identity. Experiences of aging, physical illness, and mental health are interwoven as a patchwork of multi-color assemblage.
Gillespie’s Only a Memory employs translucent, ephemeral figures to evoke what the artist describes as a “fading of self” primarily associated with the decline of cognitive abilities resulting from dementia. By transforming everyday materials—newsprint, grocery ads, colored tissue—into enigmatic human forms, Gillespie mirrors the transformative work of caregivers who see the whole person within the patient, recognizing dignity and meaning even in states of profound vulnerability and change.
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GJ Gillespie is a collage artist living in a 1928 farmhouse overlooking Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island, WA. With 23 awards to his name, his work has been exhibited in 70 shows and has appeared in over 201 publications. Beyond his studio practice, Gillespie channels his passion for art by running Leda Art Supply, a company specializing in premium sketchbooks. You can find more of his work on Instagram @garygillespie7 and www.gjgillespieartistic.com.