Artist's Statement:

For the past 15 years, Hope has taken new directions to create dynamic images of color and movement using acrylic paint on canvas and industrial wool. She uses the simplest of forms, often inspired from nature, to create dynamic imagery, and blend color and texture to create rich, vibrant designs. As wall hangings, table-runners, and floor cloths, her striking patterns brighten any space they are in. Her most recent work uses liquid acrylics and a negative transfer process with self-cut stencils to layer multiple colors on industrial wool (felt) painting surfaces.

Hope also interweaves her painted canvases: two canvases of the same size are stretched on frames and are individually painted with acrylic paints. When dry, one is removed from the frame and cut into ½” wide strips. The second canvas is then, partially cut and the ½” strips are woven into it. She continues weaving the strips until the piece is completely woven into it. The merged work is then removed from the frame, the edges are glued down and a canvas backing is glued on.

Although self-taught, Hope is active in two local art guilds, the Fiberarts Guild (as a past Board member), and the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, and has purposefully participated in numerous juried exhibitions to create a resume in art. Her work has been shown locally, nationally and internationally. Locally, her art has been exhibited at the Hoyt Institute of Fine Art, the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Robeson Gallery, HUB-Robeson Center, and the Harlan Gallery. Her art has also been included in gallery exhibits in North Carolina, Kansas, New York, Virginia, and Ohio. Internationally her fiber art has been shown in Vancouver, Canada, and Sydney and Brisbane, Australia.

All images copyrighted by Hope Gelfand Alcorn. Artwork on this site may not be copied or reproduced in any form without permission from the artist. Last updated, July 2011.