Polish-born Ania Gilmore is the first Featured Member to grace NEBA’s website. Acclaimed for her originality of vision, meticulous craftsmanship, and striking beauty, her pieces have been exhibited both nationally and internationally, featured in numerous, prestigious publications, and are housed in both private and public collections throughout the world. She has also served as an independent curator in the U.S. and abroad, where her substantial, curatorial acumen is widely recognized.
Twórcy-wizerunku-Poloni magazine article on Ania Gilmore’s artworks
Gilmore – who resides in Lexington, Massachusetts – studied at some of New England’s most prestigious art schools: Massachusetts College of Art and Design (BFA with Honors in Printmaking), Rhode Island School of Design and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston (printmaking, book arts, and fibers), and at the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine. Her oeuvre consists of artist books, works on paper, printmaking, fiber arts, graphic design, and mixed media.
E-Squared article on Ania Gilmore’s Book Arts
The various disciplines which she has studied have informed her work in interesting and innovative ways, fueling her innate inventiveness. This is evidenced in artist books such as Knowledge Inc., in which Gilmore alters an 1847 Webster’s Dictionary with thread, as well as, Border which consists of woodcut, chine-collé, image transfer on Japanese paper, blind embossing, and waxed linen thread.
Her pieces also demonstrate a wide range of styles. Library of Alexandria Redux for instance, is characterized by repeated, rectangular patterns rendered in a subtle palette of muted hues, evoking a sense of quietude, introspection, and meditation. Mental Gymnastics by way of contrast, pulsates with lush, densely-saturated color, its sensual design exuding unmistakable vitality and energy.
Mental Gymnastics
Accordion book, 40lbs cover paper, digital text, 2020
Approx. 0.75 h x 211″ w
Shown in The Art in Isolation exhibition in North Dakota Museum of Art.
April, 2020 – until when we can gather in groups again. The curator asked artists to submit images of what they are doing to be creative in this time of social distancing.
Polonaise in C minor, Op. 40 No.2
from Tempo Rubato collection.
Artist’s book, tracing paper, recycled printed invitation, 2020
From the 2018 Joy of Freedom exhibition at the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America in New York, NY.
30 w x 40″ h
For Ania, “Tempo Rubato explores emotional connections of living in two countries and examines the concept of nationality and duality. Many of us who come from a different place must participate in a new culture. Coming from Poland and living in the US, I’ve experienced first-hand the importance of the sense of belonging and the connection to my roots. Tempo Rubato [ˈtɛmpo ruˈbaːto] (free in the presentation, Italian for: stolen time) is a musical term referring to expressive and rhythmic freedom by a slight speeding up and then slowing down of the tempo of a piece at the discretion of the soloist or the conductor.”
Mental Gymnastics along with Sonata b-moli op. 35 nr 2, and Randomly John Cage will be included in The Book as Art 8.0: Infinity – exhibition curated by Decatur Arts Alliance in Decatur, GA on view from August 28–October 17, 2020.
Atlas of Mind
Artist’s book, boiled wool scraps, cotton thread, Strathmore paper, bookbinding aluminum screw post, 2020
Approx. 15 w × 6″ h
Normal
Hand cut template in Helvetica Neue 75 Bold 225 pt., enamel satin Heritage Red spray paint on chipboard, 2020
20 w x 3.75″ h
Created for the ArtSpace Maynard community public art project, Where do we go from here? to highlight uncertainties of a post-pandemic future.
Ania Gilmore’s creative imprint is an exceptional one, her elegant forms, thought-provoking motifs, and uniquely refined sensibility make her work a joy to behold. As NEBA’s very first Featured Member, we celebrate and honor her substantial contributions to the book arts. Congratulations, Ania!