Art Bets: Anna Jensen at the Artery

You won’t see such a vibrantly colored, art-historical, personal and superficially joyous exhibition again soon. ’…If I’m Good in Bed,’ the Artery’s current and short-lived exhibition by Asheville painter Anna Jensen, handles more aesthetic and social facets than your average 16-painting show. It incorporates a fair share of advertising. It nods to historical players like Matisse and Van Gogh who show up in Jensen’s color choices and figurative styles. And it seamlessly analyzes women’s social roles while covertly pushing possible self-revelatory experiences. What little humor there is doesn’t get far before it hits severe and even psychologically traumatic undertones. (Although the undertones are truly overtones, momentarily obscured by Southern Comfort and a slight grin.) Most of the paintings feature partially or fully nude women, glamorously posing and unabashed. While some haven’t a care in the world, such as ‘Finally I’m a Functioning Alcoholic,’ a few, like ‘Worse Things Happen at Sea’ are clearly hiding something more dangerous. ’…If I’m Good in Bed’ is up through Thursday, Aug. 30 at the Artery in the Pink Dog Creative building at 346 Depot St. ashevillearts.com.

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About Kyle Sherard
Book lover, arts reporter, passerby…..

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