Aaron Van Dyke

Some fabric paintings (2003–06)

All untitled, acrylic on fabric, unless otherwise noted.

Below is a series of paintings on printed fabric (bed sheets, pillowcases, shirts, etc.). Stripes were painted on the fabric. The parts of the original print from the fabric that are still visible are then cut away, leaving the stripes and unprinted fabric intact. The painted stripes essentially hold the painting together.

The stripes I use are inspired by a variety of sources, from 1920s Russian fabric design, to contemporary fashion, graphic design, and monochrome painting. I am interested in the content of the printed images on the fabric which, despite being cut away, are sometimes still readable as the outlines of missing objects. Most of the images on the fabric are landscapes or plant forms, but some are cartoon characters, figures, or abstract patterns.

Coming from utilitarian fabrics, these paintings have a foot in the domestic. I buy most of this of fabric used, so it has its own history, which sometimes shows up as faded areas or stains. I leave these stains in, since they are not figurative. The stains are also interesting in terms of being another layer of abstract “painting".

fabric painting
fabric painting
fabric painting
fabric painting
fabric painting
fabric painting
fabric painting
Untitled corner painting, 19" × 42"
fabric painting
Untitled, 21" × 21". Ribbon on shirt sleeve.
fabric painting
fabric painting
fabric painting
fabric painting
Twin II. Ribbon on pillow case.
fabric painting
fabric painting
fabric painting
fabric painting
fabric painting
fabric painting
fabric painting
fabric painting
Installation view at Thomas Barry Fine Arts, 2006.
fabric painting
Installation view at Thomas Barry Fine Arts, 2006.