UNTAMED: Art by Emma Bridges

For the month of June, the artwork of local artist Emma Bridges will be on display at the Capitol! Join us for this free public reception to celebrate her work. Emma Bridges is a mixed media artist based in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Influenced by her southern upbringing, Bridges’ work can best be described as nostalgic. Her unique, retro stylization, combined with her affinity for iconic symbols of vintage Americana, allows her to explore a sense of cinematic isolation that turns blank canvases into vibrant works of art. A prominent theme Bridges engages with throughout her work is the obstruction of the gaze. The people she paints are not performing for any audience; they look away, shield their eyes, or hide behind a lit cigarette. “By cutting off their gaze,” she says, “I want it to feel as though my characters are independent, free, and untamed.”