Dana Powell's small-scale oil paintings transform everyday scenes into moments of quiet tension and anticipation. Her subjects—night drives, swimming pools, elevator doors, still lifes with fruit—are rendered with cinematic precision, capturing the unsettling power of the ordinary. Through considered austerity and subtle shifts in formal strategies, Powell imbues these familiar scenarios with an undercurrent of unease, suggesting that even the most mundane moments can harbor emotional depth. Working primarily on linen, Powell's paintings often feature isolated objects or scenes that invite close inspection. The scale of her works encourages intimate engagement, drawing viewers into a reflective space where the boundaries between the real and the imagined blur. Whether depicting a glowing swimming pool in the dark or a lone streetlamp on a deserted road, Powell's compositions evoke a sense of stillness and contemplation. Through her restrained approach, Powell explores the psychological landscapes of everyday life, revealing the latent narratives within the spaces and objects we often overlook. Her work challenges viewers to reconsider the familiar, finding beauty and complexity in the seemingly simple moments that define our experiences. ...
