May 7 - May 23, 2026
Gallery Hours:
Thursday & Friday 2 - 7 pm
Saturday 11 am - 4 pm
No Bad Parts
A Solo Show by Madison Dunn
Artist Statement
My paintings are personifications of my thoughts. Psychology, human emotion, and social structures merge as the focus of my work. I am inspired by Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, which views the self as a collection of different parts, each with their own roles. These parts may clash with each other, may long to disappear, may cause harm - but at their core, they most often strive to protect the self. With exaggerated and distorted features, the figures in my paintings may appear hyper-vigilant, overprotective, and guarded, as many of us may learn to be at certain points in our lives. I am interested in this behavior as a defense mechanism, and I believe that by breaking apart the self and better understanding these parts, we can begin to reason with them.
Like therapy, self-portraiture is an act of both self-discovery and self-invention, offering a space for reflection and renewal. While my paintings are all self-portraits, my hope is that they spark reflection on the parts that exist within you.
Biography
Maddie Dunn is a California-based artist whose work explores psychology, human emotion, and social structures. While she has practiced portraiture and drawing from a young age, she began her extensive study of oil painting during the COVID-19 lockdowns, which has now developed into a dedicated practice and love for the medium. Formerly a psychology major, she has always maintained an interest in human experience and cognitive distortion, and these interests are evident in much of her work. Currently pursuing her Master of Fine Arts at California State University, Sacramento, Maddie continues to deepen her engagement with art history, critical theory, and contemporary painting practices.
My paintings are personifications of my thoughts. Psychology, human emotion, and social structures merge as the focus of my work. I am inspired by Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, which views the self as a collection of different parts, each with their own roles. These parts may clash with each other, may long to disappear, may cause harm - but at their core, they most often strive to protect the self. With exaggerated and distorted features, the figures in my paintings may appear hyper-vigilant, overprotective, and guarded, as many of us may learn to be at certain points in our lives. I am interested in this behavior as a defense mechanism, and I believe that by breaking apart the self and better understanding these parts, we can begin to reason with them.
Like therapy, self-portraiture is an act of both self-discovery and self-invention, offering a space for reflection and renewal. While my paintings are all self-portraits, my hope is that they spark reflection on the parts that exist within you.
Biography
Maddie Dunn is a California-based artist whose work explores psychology, human emotion, and social structures. While she has practiced portraiture and drawing from a young age, she began her extensive study of oil painting during the COVID-19 lockdowns, which has now developed into a dedicated practice and love for the medium. Formerly a psychology major, she has always maintained an interest in human experience and cognitive distortion, and these interests are evident in much of her work. Currently pursuing her Master of Fine Arts at California State University, Sacramento, Maddie continues to deepen her engagement with art history, critical theory, and contemporary painting practices.
