Pixelation
Original artwork painted on canvas with acrylic. Not framed. Signed by Tobin Heath.
48 x 42 x 1 in. (121.92 x 106.68 x 2.54 cm.)
TH 4.
17% of proceeds from the art auction will be donated to Alternate ROOTS to fuel their work with artists and cultural organizers that champion social and economic justice.
An additional 17% of proceeds will be donated to the National Domestic Workers Alliance to support their efforts helping domestic workers stay home and be healthy during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The story behind the art
In the fleeting moments between USWNT games and training, athlete and artist Tobin Heath, devoted herself to constructing and deconstructing what is now “Pixelation.” In a small studio in Portland, Oregon she began her process methodically building the canvas, painting four full paintings underneath what is now the final work. It’s both literally and symbolically a layering of thoughts about patterns, norms, binaries, and self-expression. Written in one layer in dripping blue paint: “I don’t understand but I want to”.
Remnants of each layer are visible. In its entirety, each square held within the piece becomes a cell, holding a unique and unrepeatable identity. It is both orderly and wild. An expression of the tension between expectations and individuality. With this work, Tobin provokes the beholder to consider: How can you express your individuality when you feel confined? How can you make change and remain within a system?
