ABOUT THE EXHIBITION...

Combining ancient gold leafing techniques with human figures masterfully rendered in oil, Metra Mitchell's new series Paragon has a transfixing glow. Eleven shoe box sized works are on view in phd's portfolio gallery.

Mitchell explores a variety of elegant poses painted with backgrounds of gold leaf. The gilding creates decorative flat spaces that embellish the contours of the figure. Although the subjects are contemporary, the paintings are reminiscent of sacred icons or images from the pages of illuminated texts. The intimate setting of the portfolio space is the perfect setting for the small scale works.

Metra Mitchell earned her Bachelor's of Fine Art in Painting from Western Kentucky University and her Masters of Fine Arts in Painting Fontbonne University in St. Louis, MO. Metra' s works have been widely exhibited throughout the midwest and were recently featured in Eme' Exposition Internationale at the Centre Culturel et de la Vie Associative Villeurbanne in Lyon, France. She lectures on her work and teaches Drawing and Design at Forest Park Community College and Art Survey at St. Charles Community College. Metra continues to work in her studio located in St. Louis' Central West End.