Exclusive Representative -Galeria JAN, La Jolla, California
Radio interview:
http://signonradio.com/programs/into-night/
Taylor was born in San Francisco in 1990, and lives in California. Taylor is a breath of fresh air in the art history of the Prendergast family, and brings her own artistic focus into the 21st century. Taylor is currently studying with an art professor, and recently returned from an extensive summer abroad on Sipan Island in Croatia under the tutelage of world renowned artist, Joze Ciuha. This small island has the grace of the ancient world, with its virgin land and sea, left unspoiled by the rush of modern civilization. Taylor studied art with Ciuha in Croatia, and as a private mentor in San Diego, and is now ready for a new world and artistic direction.
The creative perception expressed in Prendergast’s paintings of the female and male figures in their singularity and androgynous persuasions appears to be those of an artist who is a half-century more mature than her chronological nineteen years. Taylor began painting when she was in kindergarten. Even at this early age, Taylor was obsessed with the paintbrush and discovered that throwing paint with abandon was the most wonderful thing. In middle school, Taylor took an art class, and entered her work in local county fairs, winning her share of prizes. Taylor was encouraged to take more classes and began to further explore this creative drive and talent with art professors. During this time, Taylor was introduced to the work of many professional artists, but was especially taken with the work of Egon Schiele. Taylor states, “He completely lit my world up, everything about his work, his line his color, the way he was provocative, made me understand art in an interesting way and I started exploring my own version of female sexuality.”
Taylor's fine-line drawings are precise, never the whole, but enough to give power and strength to the finished piece, which can be edgy, disturbing and intellectually demanding. Figures are out of proportion, some with deliberately extended angular breasts; man-woman meld into one; leaving an unsettling and mysterious aura.
The mediums used are ink and acrylics and some watercolor, enhanced with collages of torn paper. Most of Taylor's works consist of a single figure, often with the subtle nuance of facial features. It is quite phenomenal for someone of this young age to have the capacity to express such full-blown maturation and refinement.
One painting, “Confused,” leaves the viewer wondering exactly what the figure is doing. The disorderly male is clothed only with a head cover and extending chin strap, and a short length of patterned fabric hangs against the nude body. An extended hand holds on to an upright hollow leg. We want to know more, but find little to inform us.
“Concierto,” is mixed media on canvas, and is one of the few fully clothed figures. This work shows a female with a small feathered-hat cocked to the side, garbed in varying shades of pinks, holding a stringed instrument. Is there a look of concentration? One can only guess, as in many of Prendergast’s paintings, facial features are minimal.
The painting “Consecrated Discourse,” is mixed media on paper. The elongated figure has a triangular shaped masked face. Full female breasts on an athletic torso extends into a male body with a stance that infers the confused role of either male or female.
Taylor states that, “Schiele’s influence is evident in my female figures which are unashamedly erotic. I feel like there is so much beauty in things that people overlook, like women with mustaches, but that is how I see sexuality – it is provocative and I like that."
Letter from Mr. Ciuha:
"Island Sipan has been my summer home for almost 50 years. I have been making art there and receiving inspiration from this island that is lost to the world. An island that still has the grace of the ancient world of the Old Testament. Where summer and spring leave no room for winter. A land where we have little need of modern convenience, power or police. Just virgin land and virgin sea to make anyone who comes here understand what being in love can really be.
This is where I met Taylor Prendergast. She came by recommendation to study from me by my galleria representative in La Jolla. Bilijana immediately contacted me about Taylor after Bilijana met Taylor and saw her good artwork. I agreed to teach Taylor and a few weeks later Taylor arrived with her Dad and brother Franklin to stay on Island Sipan for 8 weeks.
At first glance Taylor seemed fragile and small. With big eyes full of sky, I was instantly charmed by this little one. After a couple of days it was clear to me that she is full of creative energy. The drawings she brought with her told me she was born with great talent and to my surprise, great humor and love, too. It was also clear to me that she has great feeling and obsession for her work.
She worked tirelessly the whole time. We did not talk much but we understand each other. She is very independent and learned the laws of visual grammar from me and progressed unusually quickly and from day to day revealed the splendor of her talent. Unlike any of my other students Taylor did not copy my style but accelerated in her knowledge I gave her. The principle was simple with Taylor: from good to better everyday advancing. She was never tired and progressed unusually quickly from day to day revealing her splendor and talent.
Her specific style from starting point made for bold composition, like her application of her line, form and composition and use of colors impressed me that Taylor is very special in art.
Taylor with sky in her eyes of Sipan celebrated her 18th birthday while here with her brother, her dad and myself. In her health we drank Pan Rozulina a unique liqueur from Sipan Island.
I like to repeat once again: Congratulations Taylor"
Professor Joze Ciuha
Exhibition History:
-"Self Explosion" March 26th - April 11th. 2010 - Galeria JAN, LA Jolla, California
-"Pushing the Spaces" November 21, 2009 -January 2, 2010- Black Maria Gallery, Los Angeles, California.
-"Beyond the Border" September 2-4, 2009- International Contemporary Art Fair San Diego, California.
-"Homagge a Egon Schiele" - January 24 - February 15, 2009 - Galeria JAN, La Jolla, California.
