STATEMENT
Georgie Miller is a mixed media collage and photography based mixed media artist based in Chicago and Austin. Her work explores themes of consumption and indulgence in daily life and in death, and the possibilities of perception. Her poignant works are created by digitally distorting images, colors and patterns and compiling the printed results through collage on paper, often with three dimensionality. Her still life scenes aim to entice the viewer to reveal new meaning found in the manipulations of collage and invite the viewer to challenge how they absorb the written word, the mundane and the celebratory – and the magic in the processing of the human experience.
In my ongoing series, "Last Meal on Earth," I draw inspiration from interesting characters I encounter and ask them to curate their ideal final meal before death. The curated meals are transformed into poignant still lifes of indulgent tablescapes capturing a ceremonial moment at the finality of one’s life. Exploring the spoils of indulgence and the nourishment of moderation throughout one's life, these isolated yet elaborate scenes nod to the inherent dichotomy of life and death. In both composition and subject matter I navigate the boundaries between life and death, indulgence and moderation, celebration and reflection – and the magic in between.
My fascination with this theme stems from personal experience, having grappled with the loss of my father to alcoholism. It is a profound confrontation with mortality, a journey that has led me to ponder the complexities of indulgence, restraint, fulfillment, and the transient nature of life. Through the lens of these last suppers, I seek to evoke both introspection and joy. I aim to spark nostalgia, inviting viewers to ponder the richness of existence and savor life's precious moments with fervor and appreciation. The work is a reflection of life’s final occasion interweaved with moments of cultural identity, self expression and what sparks joy for each character. The still lives are contemplative yet celebratory.
Each composition is meticulously crafted, blending digital manipulation with physical collage techniques to imbue the scene with depth and complexity. By transforming sourced imagery, patterns, colors and textures, the work starts digitally with unexpected hue, shape and perspective. Once each element is printed on paper, the table is manually set with thoughtful collage placement and added 3-d depth to reflect lifes layers.
Inspired by the moody, poised Dutch still life paintings of the 16th and 17th centuries, the composition ties in the themes extravagance and grandeur. An homage to the ritual of dining, a visual feast that transcends the boundaries of time and consumption.
Through this transformative process, I aim to challenge the viewer to seek within themselves what truly sparks joy. I seek to provoke introspection and dialogue, encouraging viewers to reassess their relationship with gratification and what it means to treat oneself in life and facing death. It is an invitation to explore the juxtapositions of life and death, celebration and contemplation, through the lens of a shared human experience.
Inquire: hi@georgiemillerart.com
ARTIST CV
EDUCATION
2013 | The University of Texas at Austin | Bachelor of Science in Visual Marketing
2015 | Southwest School of Art and Craft | Postgraduate painting and mixed media courses
JURIED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 | Texas Vignette, Dallas, TX
2024 | Red Dot Art Spree, Women and Their Work, Austin, TX
2024 | 46th Harper College National Juried Exhibition, Chicago, IL
2024 | 40th Annual Juried Exhibition, Houston Visual Arts Alliance, Jung Center, Houston, TX
2024 | Verde Variants, Juried Exhibition, Union Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
2023 | Collage / Assemblage: Beautiful and Strange Fragmentation, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2024 | New Visionary Magazine, Volume 10
2024 | Chicago Gallery News, Fall 2024
2024 | PaperCity Magazine, October 2024
AWARDS
2024 | Honorable Mention, 40th Annual Juried Exhibition, Houston Visual Arts Alliance