The Big Garden by Francisca Ahlers
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The Big Garden 2014 - 2016

Francisca Ahlers

InkCanvasCharcoalAcrylic
80 ⨯ 130 ⨯ 4 cm
ConditionExcellent
€ 3.450

Villa del Arte Galleries

  • About the artwork
    Years of collecting books, travel archives and studying art in Europe, went hand in hand with visiting historical monuments and grand palaces, remnants of past golden eras. This nostalgic raking over the past encompasses these inspirational elements, weaved together with her own curiosity in loose charcoal lines depicting Baroque, whimsical and once decadent interiors.
    For many years Ahlers was content with the simplicity of black charcoal on white canvas, adding carefully curated splashes of colour to her otherwise spontaneous work. Recently this has given way to her new need to explore colour further with vibrant acrylics bringing waves of new life to her familiar majestic salons and solitary figures that are so important to her narrative. With spontaneous gestures, nostalgic moments are immortalized in time.
    “The rooms in my paintings are small trips to the past. I look for an alternative reality through a fictional scenario, represented by a dystopian era of booms and declines.”
    Francisca Ahlers has exhibited internationally with Villa del Arte Galleries for over a decade in Barcelona, Amsterdam, London, NYC, Chicago and Miami. She now lives and works in Chile.
  • About the artist

    Francisca Ahlers is a Chilean visual artist known for her evocative depictions of baroque, whimsical, and slightly decadent interiors. Her work is deeply inspired by her extensive travels across Europe, where she visited historic palaces and monuments. These experiences are reflected in her art, which blends nostalgia with a fascination for the opulence and imperfection of past golden eras.

    Ahlers’ compositions often feature elaborate chandeliers, floral arrangements, and animals such as cats, dogs, and peacocks, which she uses to introduce an element of disorder into otherwise grand and meticulously detailed spaces. Her signature style combines charcoal sketches with vibrant acrylics, striking a balance between monochromatic depth and bursts of color. This approach creates an interplay between finished and unfinished elements, evoking both elegance and decay.

    Her notable collection, Nostalgia, exemplifies her exploration of these themes, presenting interiors that double as fictional scenarios. These works have been showcased in prominent galleries such as Villa del Arte in Barcelona, where she has also held solo exhibitions. Ahlers' art has gained international recognition, with exhibitions in Amsterdam, London, New York, Chicago, and Miami. She continues to explore the narratives hidden within architectural grandeur and the imperfection behind seemingly flawless facades.

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