Observer, 24X36, Oil on canvas
Anna Stephen Tanner is an American born artist from Atlanta, GA, currently practicing in Toronto, ON. Her work, primarily oil based, is saturated and expressive, using figurative imagery to explore the meeting of sexuality and identity. Drawn to depictions of tension and contrasting themes, she traces her upbringing amongst rigid southern american values to the root of experience as a femme lesbian woman. Connecting the two worlds of experience where themes of objectification, commodification and fetishization permeate.
With modern media centering sex and violence, her references come from all around her. Whether it's pages from a vintage playboy from her and her girlfriends collection, or imagery she captures when she travels back to rural areas in the states. Playing in the realm between two opposing power structures, she is using the commodifiers and methods of commodification as tools to radically reimagine through her queer gaze.
Receiving the Cerasani Award & Grant from The Harley School, and graduating with Honors from Sheridan College, she is working on her BFA at OCADU for Criticism and Curatorial Practices. Her work has been shown internationally at (SCENE) Metrospace in Michigan, US, Gallery 1313, Stackt Market, and Ada Slaight Gallery in Toronto, ON.