Gina Beavers

Gina Beavers was born in Greece in 1974. She attended the University of Virginia and got her bachelors in Studio Art and Anthropology. Afterwards, she obtained her Masters at the Art Institute of Chicago. She also received an Education degree in Brooklyn. Her work has been featured in New York, Baltimore, Miami, Canada and other places. 

Her series "Palate" consists of paintings commenting on the fetishization of food. What is unique about the series is that she takes the paint and gives it a sculptural quality. The paintings are layers of acrylic paint and paint medium, creating incredible texture and the look of a low relief. The paintings represent the over fetishization of food to the point that the results of the works are repulsive. In the advertising industry, photographers will paint food to give a more vibrant color, spray them with chemicals to create a glistening effect, among other revolting techniques to get that perfect shot. Beavers' wanted to capture that aspect within the series. 

I chose her to research because I love her use of medium. She takes something meant for two-dimensional works and turns it into a sculpture-like piece. The texture allows for shadows and highlights to be created wherever the piece is installed. Her work evokes a feeling that I hope my series will be capable of doing.