As the winter season comes to a close, 440 Gallery is pleased to present DREAMING: awake and sleeping, a solo show of vibrant abstract paintings by Jo-Ann M. Acey. Inspired by the intersection of dreams and memory, Acey’s collection of new work combines bold painterly techniques with ink drawings on paper and wood. This is Acey’s third solo show at the gallery.

In her studio, when Acey envisions landscapes or seascapes, she turns to her memories as a type of visual diary. Her painterly abstractions develop without exact points of reference, instead she takes a brush or pen and begins to put color down on the surface, creating a spontaneous composition. Using Flashe paint, Acey layers textural brushstrokes in shapes that create her imagery—a dialog is formed between visible and concealed areas that are constantly in flux.

In the painting Sea and Sky, a large swath of blue references an imagined seascape. Recalling her times visiting east coast shorelines, Acey gives the viewer energetic suggestions of place. Using shapes and distinct lines, blocks of color accents, and raw brush marks, her compositions strike up a conversation between hints of what is specific and that which can be interpreted. Abstraction and vivid color palettes accent these dream-driven works.

Acey says, “I allow ideas to unfold as I work on each piece, where subject matter is secondary to an emotional landscape. Achieved through color and movement, I let gesture and feeling become critical elements in my work.”

Jo-Ann M. Acey received an MFA from Texas Tech University and a BFA from Daemen University. Her work is included in collections throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Central America. She has shown at Brooklyn-based galleries including The Cluster Gallery, The Candy Factory, Site:Brooklyn and Saint Joseph's University. As an art educator, Acey was an instructor at the United Nations International School and with the innovative Studio in a School program. Her studio is located at the Brooklyn Art Cluster Studios within the Gowanus, Brooklyn art community. She has been a member of 440 Gallery since 2016.

Exhibition Date: March 16 - April 16, 2023

Location: 440 Gallery

440 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11215

Gallery hours:

Thursday - Friday, 4-7pm

Saturday - Sunday 12-6pm.

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