Forest Painting

BIO Sunny Chapman retired from a 25 year career as a jewelry designer, performer and activist to focus solely on art making Chapman’s practice is based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and the Catskills. Her studio work has been shown in galleries largely in the Northeast, most recently at Equity Gallery, NY, NY. Metaphor Gallery, Brooklyn, NY and New Bedford Art Museum, New Bedford, MA. Artist Statement My artwork is deeply influenced by mystical practices like Sufism and Alchemy. The themes that emerge from these practices include doorways as portals to other universes, mysterious languages, and circles that symbolize the whirling of the dervish and the universe. Birds hold a special significance as they represent the link between heaven and earth, bridging the past and the present. 
 Throughout my life, I've been obsessed with shape and color, and this passion is particularly evident in my current body of work, titled Shapeshifters. These works are crafted from plywood, typically cut into biomorphic shapes and then collaged and painted in bright colors. The painting style is influenced by the 1970s pattern and decoration movement, and often incorporates repeated motifs.  
 Additionally, I'm working on a series of larger shaped wood pieces in shades of black. My connection to the natural world is strong, and I often find myself walking in the woods or near water. During these journeys, I collect stones, bits of wood, shells, bones, and natural fragments, which I incorporate into my larger black pieces. Drawings emerge from these walks as well.