JoAnne Carson’s exuberant paintings of unruly, hybrid trees pull together allusions to Cubism, mid-century Disney concept art, and changes in the natural environment. Roberta Smith has said of Carson’s recent paintings, “each its own universe of botanical forms, electric color, visionary light, possible planets and pop culture references.” She explores these forms in two and three dimensions, known also for her large three-dimensional paintings that contain gutted TVs, chairs, plastic fruit, and other found objects, seamlessly integrated into her paintings as if they were never separate entities. She later began making free-standing sculptures, inventing floral forms and tree-like bouquets. For the past twelve years, Carson has devoted herself to crafting an intricate terraced horticultural habitat in Vermont, adorned with topiaries, fruit trees, and perennials. This endeavor not only revolutionized her perspective on landscapes but also left a deep imprint on her studio practice.

Born in New York City, JoAnne Carson splits her time between Brooklyn, New York, and Shoreham, Vermont. She received her MFA from the University of Chicago and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois. Her sculptures, paintings, and drawings have been shown in numerous solo and two-person exhibitions including The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago and the Zillman Art Museum, Bangor, Maine. She has participated in notable group exhibitions at institutions such as the Whitney Biennial Exhibition, the New Orleans Museum, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, and the Sheldon Art Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska. Carson is the recipient of many awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Rome Prize from the American Academy in Rome, the Louise Bourgeois Residency from Yaddo, and an individual artist grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. She is Distinguished Professor Emerita at the University of Albany, SUNY.