St. Andrew’s-Sewanee Gallery is still hosting the work of Tess Davies from now until April 30. 

Community members had the opportunity to meet and talk with the artist on Thursday, April 10, during a gallery reception in the St. Andrew’s-Sewanee Gallery.

In the “Making Room” series, Artist Tess Davies plays with color, pattern, and perspective to construct imaginary spaces inspired by dollhouses and the childhood activity of playing house. Finding inspiration from the female experience and motherhood as well as nursery rhymes, children’s books, and folktales, Davies illustrates spaces of safety and comfort with an attention to escapism, biological patterns and forms, and feminine tropes. The work acts as a representation of compartmentalization and depicts “a still-life of our internal states,” addressing the way in which we are conditioned to make light of uncomfortable things.

Davies (formerly Erlenborn) is an artist from Nashville. She graduated cum laudefrom Sewanee: The University of the South with a B.F.A under the honors program in 2014. Her studio and mural practices include acrylic painting, with a focus on natural textures, layered spaces, and dualities. She is represented by Nashville Artist Collective and Design Supply in Birmingham, AL.

About SAS

St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School, an Episcopal boarding and day school in Sewanee that is committed to arts education and creativity. In addition to offering a wide range of courses and afternoon programs in the visual and performing arts, SAS welcomes professional artists throughout the year for gallery exhibitions, performances, and workshops. The school is also home to Shakerag Workshops, a residential summer arts program for adults.