Faran Riley

My drawings capture moments late at night inspired by the long solitary walks I take in the after hours. In the studio I meditate on my past walks and try to remember the moments of light and shadow as well as the sounds of the animals in the marsh and trees. I set a scene of overgrown gardens or treelines backlit by moonlight with hidden creatures lurking. Through my introspective drawing practice I conjure imaginary animals, fungi and plants and visualize alien landscapes.  

Growing up on the East coast between Savannah, GA and Vinalhaven, ME I am acquainted with the incredibly lush environments on our barrier islands. Living for many years in Brooklyn, NY, I missed the wildness of my hometown’s landscape. I sought out empty lots in my urban environment with dense patches of overgrowth opportunistically proliferating from the cracks in cement and abandoned foundations. 

In the Fall of 2020, I returned to my hometown of Savannah, GA. Since my arrival, I have become reacquainted with the lush landscapes of the barrier islands here. I have even discovered some of that wildness in my own neighborhood. In my latest art work I capture local lore of large black cats roaming the marshes and the fabulous moonrises over the Atlantic Ocean that I never saw while living in Brooklyn.