MEGHANN STEPHENSON

Swan Dive

Artist Reception: November 20th, 6-8 PM

November 20th - December 21st, 2024

In her debut solo exhibition, Swan Dive, Stephenson poses the question: “Who gets to self-destruct, and is it always a bad thing?” Challenging the view that self-destruction is inherently negative, she explores it as a form of agency. For women burdened by societal demands for perfection and self-sacrifice, the allure of rejecting these expectations raises complex questions. If the path to "success" is unwinnable, does freedom lie in defying what we are told to desire and become? Stephenson invites us to reconsider: Why be a cut tulip when you could be a weed, still alive, breaking through the cracks of the sidewalk

Through works like Delicate, a tense depiction of glasses balancing on the edge of a table, and Bite the Hand, which uses a breadcrumb to symbolize the habit of giving so little in a relationship, Stephenson examines the small fractures that lead to larger breaks. The End features pearls that spell out the title in Morse code, hinting at quiet, unspoken truths. In Everything You Ever Wanted, she evokes the overwhelming weight of societal perfection—a reflection inspired by her mother’s story of going into labor after hauling home 150 white plates for a dinner party, a commitment to flawless hosting.

With surreal elements, hidden messages, and vignettes of hands, Swan Dive not only captures the transactional nature of relationships but also pays homage to the symbolic storytelling found in historical paintings. Stephenson’s exhibition invites viewers into a blend of intimacy and rebellion, raising questions of power, choice, and the spaces in between.

Meghann Stephenson (b. 1990, Virginia) received her BFA from Parsons in 2013. She has exhibited in numerous group exhibitions including Woaw Gallery, Hong Kong; Moosey, London; Harper's, East Hampton and Half Gallery, Armory NY. She lives and works in Los Angeles.