THE FAMILY / Ann Thornycroft

 

Ann Thornycroft, who was born and raised in the English countryside, draws on her experiences and memories of nature as the foundation for her abstract compositions. Thornycroft is best known for her large-scale, grid-based compositions, though the execution of these works varies in rigidity and expressiveness. In explaining her use of this structure, the artist wrote, “The grid symbolized nature and man. It is a very simple device but it continues to capture my interest.” Recurring motifs in Thornycroft’s work also include overlapping circular forms and arcs that resemble botanical forms. As a finishing layer, Thornycroft sometimes applies a sweeping wash of transparent paint, which creates drips and unevenness on the surface of the flat geometric compositions.