Meg Thaler

Artist Statement Painting/Mixed Media

My work is a vibrant exploration of color, form, and emotional resonance, achieved through the interplay of collage, acrylic paint, and pastels. Focusing on abstract compositions, I emphasize color translucency to evoke a sense of serenity and joy amidst the chaotic rhythms of contemporary culture.

Inspired by diverse landscapes and the dynamic nature of our modern world, my art serves as a meditative response to the tumultuous environment around us. Each piece is an experiment in balancing color and form, aiming to offer a quiet sanctuary and a moment of introspective calm.

Having initially studied sculpture during my MFA at Pratt Institute, where I crafted large-scale works, I turned to painting as a means to overcome a period of creative block. This shift allowed me to explore the subtleties of scale and impact, resulting in intentionally small works that challenge the viewer's perception of significance and presence.

Through my art, I seek to translate the intricate beauty of nature and human experience into visual expressions that inspire tranquility and introspection, while continually exploring the nuanced relationships between color and composition.

Artist Statement – Sculpture

I work with clay, fabric, and wax—materials that carry an inherent softness and tactility. Their malleability allows me to shape forms that are both intimate and ambiguous. The finished surfaces often possess a feminine, slightly opaque quality that evokes the elusive and layered nature of the figurative mystique.

My practice is rooted in organic shapes that mirror the human body—its strength, its vulnerabilities, and its many mysteries. These forms often blur the line between the familiar and the abstract, inviting a bodily response as much as a visual one. I am especially drawn to moments where tension arises—between beauty and repulsion, fragility and power, balance and collapse.

Recently, I’ve been exploring larger-scale pieces that push the limits of physical equilibrium. These sculptures test how far I can stretch the material—and the viewer’s expectations—while still holding space for softness and ambiguity. In doing so, I aim to create work that lingers in contradiction: seductive yet unsettling, grounded yet ephemeral.