Rose Wylie's perceptions of people and animals at Chelsea gallery show

 The Thomas Erben Gallery in Chelsea is currently presenting a collection of work by British painter Rose Wylie for the exhibition Girl and Spiders. For her second solo show at the gallery, Wylie unveils paintings and collages of people and animals, which she creates mostly from memory. The ideas for her subjects come from a variety of sources such as things she sees in the news, in movies, on television, and things she’s learned about while studying art history. She’s also inspired by different eras in art history and people she meets or comes across in her life.

One notable image that evokes joy and childhood fantasies is Blue Horse With Girl depicting a black and blue horse leaping into the air with a teenage girl dancing on its back as though trying to capture the carefree innocence of when she was a young child. Other works that Wylie offers include portraits such as Danser (Dark Eyes) and Zelda. Danser (Dark Eyes) evokes lighthearted humor as it’s caricature of an entertainer whose head is shaped like a heart that balances on top of his skinny neck. The figure has well-combed hair and chiseled cheekbones, but has a mischievous expression on his face as he glances to his left, with his left eye being larger than his right. Zelda is the portrait of a woman with bold, black brushstrokes going through her short, curly hair with a somewhat stern expression on her face.

"Blue Horse With Girl" (2013) by Rose Wylie

 Rose Wylie studied at Folkestone & Dover School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London where she earned her M.A. Wylie’s first show at the Thomas Erben Gallery in 2010 led to wide recognition by the U.S. audience.  In 2014, she won the John Moores Painting Prize, which is a high honor in the United Kingdom.

Wylie’s work has been featured in numerous solo exhibitions at institutions all throughout Europe, and her works are also included in many permanent collections including Tate Britain, and The National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington D.C.

At the Thomas Erben Gallery, 526 W. 26th St. through May 9. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 10 a.m.—6 p.m.