Soft pastels collection exhibit opens Jan. 11

"HOW DID I GET HERE?" will be the first art exhibition at the Simpsonville Arts Center in 2024. Featuring a collection of soft pastels by soft pastel artist Emily Wilson, the art exhibit will run Jan. 11 - Feb. 12 with an opening reception on Jan. 11 at 6-8 p.m.

Emily Wilson is a soft pastel artist who focuses on realism while occasionally crossing the line into surrealism. Intrigued by the emotional expressions of those around her, Wilson explores varied states of mind through the work in her show, Stare Awhile. Through color, proportion, balance and movement, Wilson invites the viewer to navigate moments portrayed on paper while pausing and finding those moments in their own perception.

Emily received her BFA in 2018 from the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she discovered her love for charcoal and soft pastels. While heavily influenced by figurative realism, Emily’s style is unique with its focus on contrast. Studying light’s intimate relationship with shadow brings her joy as an artist, a feeling that shines through in her work.

Emily is forever learning about her artistic style and expression. From the time she could hold a pencil, it was apparent Emily had an inclination toward the arts. As a child she would take the tops of tissue boxes with an oval opening to “frame” her work and hang them around her home. While the materials have changed and the frames have become a bit sturdier, she still has that same child-like excitement when seeing her work completed.