Shawna Miller

Shawna Miller is an interdisciplinary artist based near Aspen, Colorado. Primarily a figurative painter, her practice spans painting, curation, and immersive virtual reality, with a focus on the beauty and complexity of the maternal experience. Miller was a 2022 Aspen Art Museum Artist Fellow, and her work has been shown at Helm Contemporary (New York City), The Art Base (Basalt, CO), Red Brick Center for the Arts (Aspen, CO), Anderson Ranch (Snowmass, CO), and in Oslo, Norway.


Artist Statement

I began painting maternal subjects as a way to understand my own transition into motherhood. Over time, my work has evolved toward close-cropped compositions that focus on points of connection between mother and child. By distilling the image to these intimate moments, I invite viewers into a private space — while also leaving room for psychological tension and curiosity about what lies beyond the frame.

My process often begins with brightly colored underpaintings that resemble heat signatures. I sometimes allow these layers to remain partially visible — as a design element and an additional narrative. They offer a glimpse into my process and a metaphor for the layered, sometimes chaotic emotions beneath any refined surface. To me, they are honest reflections of the colorful mess that underlies even the most carefully composed image.


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