Philemona Williams

Philemona Williamson (b. 1951) is a painter based in East Orange, New Jersey. Her vibrantly colored, dynamic paintings feature adolescents intermingled and engaged in evocative poses and actions within mysterious settings. They suggest various transitions and stages of life from childhood through adulthood. Of indeterminate age, gender, and ethnicity, the figures often seem to be caught in awkward, enigmatic moments which seduce the viewer into a labyrinth of open-ended questions. The works invite the viewer to use one’s imagination to try to interpret their complex, allegorical narratives. Initially engaged mostly with her own childhood memories, Williamson has in recent years focused on more universal, symbolic subjects, as well as the evolution of her painterly process with partially painted areas that reveal the drawing underneath the figures.

Works

Verbena Street II

Bound by what Williamson calls the “thread of vulnerability,” the figures interact with one another in a way that feels reminiscent of a childhood tantrum. Through the firm grip of the child’s hand in the hair of the off-balanced masculine figure on the bench, frustration is made visceral.

Pink Solace

The theatricality of this piece highlights the dynamic nature of each figure. The playfulness of the composition along with the saturated tones of this work engenders a dream-like landscape characteristic of Williamson’s visual style.

Cradle

Placed in a vibrant pastoral landscape, the three figures in this painting convey conflicting emotions of anticipation, support, betrayal. The white peace lilies scattering the scene create an air of innocence, furthered by the playful lego-styled figurines in the foreground.

Blue Horse Chair

In this painting, the figures’ intertwined bodies conveys a sense of strange intimacy. Their positioning presents a liminal space, where the viewer is drawn into the various small elements that deepen the composition.