Shelley Vanderbyl’s conceptually rich paintings are concerned with healing. This exhibition—her first solo exhibition since being diagnosed with ovarian cancer—works metaphorically with her experience as a cancer patient, her husband’s military Search and Rescue experience, and remembered biblical passages of comfort. The effect, she hopes, is to gently point viewers toward emotional healing.

From her tiny oil paintings in vintage medicine tins, to highly textured large-scale plaster frescoes, onto video performance pieces, she leads the viewer through a quiet, complex journey of finding beauty amidst pain. By paying attention to the small and the broken, Shelley aims to create a therapeutic experience for the viewer.