Art Exhibit Reception Overgrowth, by Anna Hoppel

Opening reception for Overgrowth, paintings by Anna Hoppel. The exhibit runs from January 6–February 12.

Artist’s statement: “Painting allows me to explore how the nature of place can encapsulate human experiences. My subject matter focuses on the landscape, both urban and wild, which I use to convey themes of transformation, grief, and cycles of death and rebirth. I work mostly from direct observation of life, incorporating elements from memory, sketches, photography, and invention. My paintings simplify light and space and use saturated color relationships to speak to the narrative of each piece. At the heart of my work is a series of contrasts: between the figure and the landscape; interior and exterior worlds; flat color shapes and expressive brushwork; and light and color binaries. These act as pressure points to create rhythm, structure, and overall energy in each painting.”

Artist’s bio: Anna Hoppel (they/she) is a visual artist based in Salt Lake City. They spent the last three years in Northwest Montana, where their experiences backpacking in the wilderness deeply informed their artistic practice. They have had solo and group exhibitions at institutions including Da Vinci Art Alliance, the Plastic Club, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and completed an artist residency at Sachaqa Centro de Arte in Peru. They graduated in 2024 with a BFA in Painting and a minor in Art History from the University of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.