Skyler Simpson

Region: MFA Annual

Website: http://skysimpson.com

City / State: Chicago, IL

 My work explores gendered tension in the domestic sphere. These paintings depict the home as a fraught refuge, evoking suspense and unease through horror film tropes. Combining naturalistic techniques with surreal elements, I examine household rituals that are rooted in my Midwestern upbringing.

My current series weaves an enigmatic and ominous narrative within the canonical architecture of a Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian house. These vignettes include scenes of both labor and leisure, revealing a dialogue between the contemporary women in my work and the gender roles that the settings of a mid-century house imply. I am interested in the ways we are conditioned to perform at home. The paintings reflect my anxiety around social conventions governing our private lives.