Vanessa Falgoust

Artist Statement

Vanessa Jean Falgoust
Artist's Statement

I recently retired as a hospice chaplain. This experience redirected my artmaking process.
I paint memories and memories of memories, seeking to capture the subjective world where meaning and purpose are forged.

I create dreamlike, subjective narratives of memories, wherein lies the sum of a person's life.
A person might attempt to objectively narrate a major life event, but the effect of that event on who the person becomes eludes objectivity.

My paintings are from my own personal experiences and memories, and memories shared with me. I once heard that the more personal an expression, the more likely it will engage others.

The resourcea for my work are wounds, unfulfilled dreams, unexpected and joyful surprises, experiences that made me cry, those that made me laugh and the memories thereof .
I am captured by figures, gestures and expressions which reveal what the person is experiencing.
I am forever a painterly painter, like being right-handed for me. Recently, color has played a more active and even central role in my work.
My father, *Hymel G. Falgoust, was an artist and Professor of Art at Southeastern Louisiana University. He encouraged me to draw and paint as a child. Even so, I did not seriously pursue drawing and painting until after I had earned a B.A. in religion and philosophy from Texas Christian University and an M.Div. from Yale University.
I spent two years full time at the Art Students' League of New York City and subsequently earned a M.F.A. from the San Francisco Art Institute. Creating art has been crucial to my life ever since.

I have made and sold artwork between positions in ministry, most recently as a hospice chaplain. My work has previously been tonal, and I employed traditional drawing and painting techniques. I am grateful for my background and continue to paint indirectly.?
Major influences my artwork are the writings of the Soren Kierkegaard, Rembrandt van Rijn and Vincent Van Gogh, who also studied theology to prepare for ministry.
I am married to Alan Cox, a classical musician (flute) and composer. We live with our dachshund, Ringo in Poughkeepsie, NY

*My father's family was Frankaphone and therefore paintings that originate in Louisiana are entitled in French.