By Melanie Becker-Donovan, The Roswell Daily Record — The newest Roswell Artist-in-Residence (RAiR) exhibit features work from Canadian artist Tyler Bright Hilton.
Visitors to the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art (AMoCA), 409 E. College Blvd., on Nov. 20 at 5:30 p.m. have the opportunity to meet the artist at the talk and reception before exploring the imaginative worlds and evolving stories of RAiR grantee Hilton, whose work combines traditional drawing techniques with influences from illustration and comic books.
The exhibition features process work from Hilton’s long-running artistic series, a project he began in 2005 and has continued developing through different stages of his life.
Originally from Canada, Hilton studied art in Toronto before moving to London, England, where he completed his Master of Fine Arts degree. His artistic influences range from comic books such as “Spider-Man” to Renaissance artists, which include Michelangelo and post-impressionists such as Vincent van Gogh.
“I make narrative work that is rooted in largely Western drawing approaches,” Hilton said. “I’ve done a lot of figure drawing and a lot of work from imagination with the idea that I could kind of make my own worlds.”
His ongoing series follows a central character through three installments, each exploring different themes as the character matures. The stories move from coming-of-age experiences and the dangers of becoming too immersed in fantasy to more mature questions about privilege, responsibility and personal accountability.
Hilton said he draws inspiration from the artists, experiences and ideas that have shaped his own life.
“I just wanted the art to filter everything that was important to me in my life,” he said.
That long-term creative process is one reason Hilton said why he values his time in the RAiR program. The program’s core, “the gift of time,” reflects an opportunity to concentrate on developing work without the interruptions of everyday life. “It’s an enormous privilege,” Hilton said. “Not worrying about time as much here, just being away from lots of obligations.”
He said that the upcoming exhibition is an opportunity to share a larger story rather than simply display individual drawings. Hilton compared his work to chapters in a book, explaining that viewing one piece independently can be like seeing a single frame from a movie without experiencing the entire story.
“I just hope that other people can relate in some way,” he said. “And then I try to make everything beautiful. So hopefully there’s some pleasure that way.”
For more information, visit AMoCA’s website.
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