Gia Whitlock

"Built on white supremacy, toxic consumerism, and misogyny, the American Dream has always been unattainable and elusive to most Americans - especially those of color. Drawing from mid-century design and the cultural standards set by the "American Dream," my mixed media paintings situate nostalgic objects somewhere between fantasy and reality. Quirky and awkward domestic and commercial interiors set a stage for playful absurdity with purposefully skewed perspectives and flattened planes.   Vintage foods and objects inhabit the space, pointing to a time that's long gone, yet, still romanticized by some groups in the United States. In reality, dark reminders of unrealistic promises made by the American Dream can be widely observed in the long-term damage to people and to the planet. In the worlds I create, these reminders disturb a seemingly quiet memory while asking to be acknowledged."