Stacey Davidson explores the traditions of portraiture in a variety of mediums, some of which have pushed her beyond the physical bounds of her studio and into the realm of whimsical public interventions. Trained as a painter, Davidson decided some years ago to pursue sculpture in order to make three-dimensional doll forms that might serve as more willing, if not patient, subjects. The use of posable dolls call to mind the work of Kiki Smith and Hans Bellmer, whose work demonstrates a certain level of control and manipulation. From the wigs to the costumes, her cast of characters is meticulously handcrafted, each with a distinct individual presence.
In Davidson’s paintings each doll takes on a life of its own, each imbued with a very specific personality. Simultaneously lifelike and artificial, the dolls and their painted portraits reflect the complexity of human emotion. Delusions, foibles, and weakness are among her primary concerns, along with our beauty, vulnerability, and our smallness – regardless of how big we are in our own minds.
Stacey Davidson is an assistant professor of painting at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. She received a BFA in painting from the Maryland Institute, College of Art (MICA) and an MFA in painting from the University of Cincinnati. In addition, she has shown with Marlborough Graphics in New York and London.