Ann Rosen

My sculptures are made primarily from repurposed and unconventional materials. Composed of many layers, the artwork incorporates material found in urban environments and elements of the everyday. These sculptures touch on themes related to our current relationship with the world we now live in as a result of the pandemic.They reference the values of today and our political world and are meant to provoke thought and emotion while also communicating on a more universal level. My sculptures also deal with the transformation of an idea, emotion, and vision into a personal and symbolic vocabulary of form. The personal memorabilia, everyday objects and unconventional organic materials are used to create constructions that have references to the unusual times we are currently living in. Multi-layered surfaces are both textural and dynamic, similar to many of my paintings that are influenced by the concepts found in abstract expressionism. Gestures and structural elements incorporated in these pieces build a personal portrait which is intentionally obscured.

Through formal composition and a sculptural art vocabulary this work is meant to operate on multiple levels inviting various interpretations depending on the viewer's experiences. Ann Rosen has been a painter, and sculptor for over 60 years. She received a BA in plastic and graphic arts from the University of Illinois and attended the Graduate School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Previously she has taught art to adults in various venues and to children in the Chicago and suburban public schools. She has exhibited in Chicago, New York, and France. As the Executive Director of The Art Center of Highland Park for 18 years, Ann curated and juried numerous exhibitions. She initiated and directed the Highland Park Festival of Fine Crafts which showcased 130 national artists for 14 years. Ann has received numerous awards in recognition of her efforts to promote the arts in the community. She received honors from the Mayor of Highland Park, the Illinois State Legislature, and the Woman of the Year Achievement Award in the Arts from the YWCA of Lake County.