Stasha Avalanche 2016

Editor: Felice House’s “Stasha Avalanche,” created in 2016 with oil paint, presents us with a striking juxtaposition. A contemporary portrait set against what appears to be a monumental natural landscape. It’s a really arresting image; the figure’s composed expression contrasts so sharply with the wild energy of the background. What do you see in this piece, particularly thinking about its potential role in public discourse? Curator: This portrait presents an interesting intersection of the individual and the environment, prompting us to consider how identity is constructed in relation to broader societal and historical contexts. Felice House is known for challenging conventional portraiture and examining gender roles. Do you think that applies here? Editor: Possibly! I get a sense that House is aiming to destabilize some of our assumptions surrounding portraiture... Curator: Exactly! Think about traditional portraiture – the historical subjects are often wealthy or aristocratic, placed in settings designed to signal status. Here, instead, we see a woman depicted with incredible self-possession, positioned in front of the overpowering avalanche. The scale is deliberately overwhelming. Editor: It makes me wonder about power, and who gets to be seen as powerful. Is House commenting on the traditional power dynamics embedded within the history of portraiture? Curator: Precisely. We might even ask: Is the avalanche a metaphor for social upheaval or a natural force against which individual agency feels insignificant? Perhaps she wants us to question the power structures, both social and environmental, that define individual existence. Editor: That reframes the artwork, making me consider the woman as an actor or agent, not just a subject. Thank you for highlighting the socio-historical perspective! Curator: My pleasure. It is rewarding to see a new generation engage with the history and evolving power dynamics in portraiture.