Paula
Henderson

Henderson’s work variously represents her interest in social unity through her exploration of current perceptions that contribute to social divisions. By probing systems of representation in both abstract and figurative paintings Henderson makes works that employ formalist visual language, yet additionally, become opportunities for social reflection. Her paintings, drawings, installations, and an ongoing social media project address distorted representations of women, ubiquitous in the commercial media in their determining presence- shaping the identity of, and about, women. By contrast, in the series Groundwork(s) she makes patterns left on ground surfaces from our movement the basis of abstract compositions that acknowledge the beauty of formal elements of color, line, and composition while simultaneously connecting the viewer to thoughts of shared social space, our collectivity, and human migrations. In this way, she revisits formalistic modern abstraction to resonate within a contemporary social context.Henderson completed her MFA degree at the University of Chicago in 2004. Her work has been exhibited throughout the U.S. and is held in numerous private and institutional collections including the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago where she had a solo exhibition in 2008. She is represented in Chicago by Linda Warren Projects, and is the recipient of several awards including a fellowship from the NEA (1995), a project grant from the Illinois Arts Council (2010) and a Catwalk Residency in NY (2008). She recently completed a public art commission for the Chicago Transit System station at 35th/White Sox redline station. Her work has been reviewed in Art LTD, New City Chicago, Time Out Chicago, The Huffington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Reader, and others. She is currently an adjunct assistant professor at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she teaches critical inquiry in the Liberal Arts Department and works as a faculty advisor for the student internship program (CAPX). Recent solo exhibitions include: (2018) Linda Warren Projects in Chicago, Waubonsee Community College, IL; (2017) Riverside Art Center, Riverside, IL, 621 Gallery, Tallahassee, Florida. Upcoming (2019) solo exhibitions include Northwestern University, Dittmar Gallery, Evanston IL.Henderson’s Recent group exhibitions include Bailey Contemporary in Pompano Beach, FL; LA Artcore, Los Angeles; The Indianapolis Art Center, IN; and the Springfield Art Museum, Spfld, MO.