Dream Weaver: A solo exhibition by Carrie Gillen

Carrie Gillen is a St. Louis based painter and sculptor, redefining the painted surface by fusing sculptural form with vibrant abstraction. Known for her innovative use of fabric, Gillen’s work dissolves the traditional boundaries of painting, introducing physical tension and movement within her compositions. Her painted surfaces oscillate between organized chaos, vivid tropical reveries, and moments of technicolor geometry. At times, the material seems to unfurl the imagery with a sense of release; in other moments, it constrains or contains the composition, creating a powerful visual push and pull.This layered relationship offers viewers a shifting experience, one that resists rigidity and invites closer inspection.

“Dream Weaver”, Gillen’s debut solo exhibition with Square One Gallery explores the dynamic interplay between painted gesture and textile form, paying homage to the foundational presence of fabric - a material Gillen returns to for its unique ability to reshape and intensify color, movement, and dimensionality. These works become more than images, they are forms in motion, where undulating planes and chromatic tension come together to explore the relationship between structure and release. The folds in each piece not only manipulate the surface but also shape the way color and light behave, casting real shadows that amplify the illusion of depth. The result is an immersive, tactile viewing experience where paint and fabric speak in unison.