Exhibition Dates:
17 October – 21 December 2024
Impulse Gallery is proud to present Transmissions, a solo exhibition by American artist Ann Tracy. This show brings together Tracy’s innovative work in painting, sculpture, and mixed media, reflecting her ongoing exploration of the human figure and her response to social, political, and environmental issues.
Ann Tracy’s career began with a focus on figurative abstraction, developed during her studies at Boston University, where she earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees in sculpture. Influenced by artists like Philip Guston and Piero della Francesca, Tracy’s work integrates themes of geometry, atmosphere, and the human condition.
In this exhibition, her work references Renaissance masterpieces, such as Piero della Francesca’s Polyptych of the Misericordia. Tracy’s large-scale, multi-panel painting Adrienne and the Twins echoes the spirit of these works, but updates them with a modern twist. The Virgin Mary is depicted sitting in a pink 1979 Ford Thunderbird—a symbol of a now-obsolete, gas-guzzling era—slowly sinking into water. Tracy uses this powerful imagery to comment on the fragility of our times and the fading of old ways.
In addition to her studio practice, Ann Tracy has been deeply involved in community-based projects. Her work with people living with AIDS in Miami, as well as with homeless and runaway teens and Haitian immigrants in the 1990s, has profoundly influenced her artistic approach.
Tracy’s large-scale works in Transmissions reflect both personal and collective experiences, focusing on ongoing social struggles and transformation. Her subjects range from women to animals, plants, and even otherworldly forms, each contributing to a collective understanding of the imbalance and change we are experiencing as a society.
One of the highlights of Transmissions is the installation They Never Died – Seven Roses. This collaborative work integrates the poetry of Amy Hosig and the music of Marcelo Toledo, a contemporary classical composer. This piece highlights Tracy’s commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and underscores her belief in the power of collective artistic expression.
The concept of transmission is central to Tracy’s work. She describes it as the flow of energy, knowledge, and insight—whether through art, teaching, or other mediums. Tracy’s background as a teacher of Kundalini Yoga Meditation and a Yoga Therapist has informed this idea, emphasizing the importance of energy exchange and transformation.
Tracy’s creative process also draws from the philosophical traditions of thinkers like William Blake, Emma Kunz, Rudolf Steiner, and Carl Jung. She integrates geometric forms in her work to explore how energy flows and transforms.
Ann Tracy’s Artistic Journey
Tracy has been recognised for her ability to merge mysticism with art, having worked as a professor of fine arts from 1988 to 2004. Her career has included both academic teaching and hands-on healing, where she supports individuals in addressing the complexities of their lives.
Her work has been featured in major cultural centers, including Boston, Miami, and New York City, and she has received numerous accolades, such as the Nan Travel Award, the Blanche E. Coleman Award from the Mellon Foundation, and a fellowship from the Vermont Studio Center.
In 2020, Tracy relocated from Brooklyn to Zurich, where she continues her practice, also spending time in Italy.
Visit Transmissions at Impulse Gallery
Don’t miss the opportunity to experience Ann Tracy’s latest body of work at Impulse Gallery from 17 October to 21 December 2024. The exhibition offers a profound exploration of the human condition, social change, and the spiritual and physical forces that shape our world.
ANN TRACY
TRANSMISSIONS
17 October – 21 December 2024
Opening Reception: 17 October, 6 – 9PM
Impulse Gallery, Lucerne, Switzerland
