Audrey Bialke (b.1991) is based in rural upstate New York. She received her BA from the State University of New York at Fredonia in 2013. Bialke’s paintings depict mythical animals, man-made objects, vegetation, and other elements within a pictorial format inspired both by illuminated manuscripts and the long tradition of feminine-coded folk decoration. Creatures and objects are plucked from time and form relationships within the borders, referencing old mythologies and creating them anew. Narratives such as navigating conflict in interpersonal relationships and pervasive disconnect from the land exist alongside a hopeful vision for a more sustainable, kind, and beautiful world. While recognizing the necessity for evolving context, the imagery is collected from the life stuff of ages passed and imbued with reverence for the long traditions of creators and the mystical act of making.