From the clank of weights hitting the floor to the gentle swoosh of the elliptical and the rhythmic footsteps on the treadmill deck, the sensory and visual experience of the gym environment is both exhilarating and daunting. Tampa-based artist Caitlin Albritton explores both phenomena in her paintings and jewelry.
She captures the performative elements of gym sessions — from twisted bodies to goddess-like poses and the muscular strength of arms and legs. These forms evolved from the two-dimensional to the three-dimensional as Albritton fuses her love of painting with her passion for rock collecting in the suite of inlay jewelry titled “Rock Solid Bodies.” To create her weightlifting stances and yoga positions, the artist carefully hand-cuts, smooths and solders each stone and piece of silver. Inspired by Mother Nature’s palette, the color and pattern of each pebble inform its placement in Albritton’s creations.
Joanna Robotham is the Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Tampa Museum of Art.
Check out last month’s piece by Dr. Lesley Wolff. Looking to advertise with us? Find out how.
