Megan Reed

Artist Statement:

My current work tries to find a definition of the American identity given the riveting changes of the recent past. Whether boom or bust, wired or remote, the spirit of the American Dream (or myth?) remains a robust ideology that fuels political campaigns, corporate governance and international strategy, while often ignoring the reality of present domestic circumstances. My work seeks to navigate the origins/prevailing foundations of this dream, through a decidedly hand-made response using paint, markings and collaged images from recent publications to formulate a new narrative that reflects the reality of being American in the present tense;  the posturing that entails and the potential disillusionment that results when the proverbial bubble bursts.

My work has been shown in solo shows at Zughaus Gallery, Berkeley, Unit 24 Gallery, London and in group shows at Berkeley Art Center, Marin Moca, Delta Axis, Memphis,  and in volume 97 of New American Paintings. I will be an artist in residence at Vermont Studio Center in summer 2013. I hold a BFA from NYU, an MA from SIU and did graduate work at Parsons School of Design in New York City. Currently, I work and teach art in Berkeley, California.