The Galleries at Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design are thrilled to present …song of the dark, showcasing the exceptional artistic vision of local talent, Lydia Farrell. Join us for the opening reception on Tuesday, February 6th, from 5:00 pm. to 7:30 pm at the Rotunda Gallery. Curated by Jeff Page.

About lydia Farrell’s Work

Lydia Farrell’s work humorously subverts common suburban cliches in their vibrant and compositionally complex paintings. Throughout this body of work, we see much more than cookie-cutter houses, heavily manicured landscaping, and bland lives being lived. Instead, we see fantastic, humorous, and emotionally dark scenes drawn from Lydia’s personal experiences and their playful imagination. Many works depict rituals and symbols of Satanism and other supernatural mysteries set in a suburban landscape. And yet, despite the abundance of dark imagery with graveyards, ghouls, and shrouded figures abounding, the viewer may find a brighter excitement in the work, no doubt affected by Lydia’s skillful use of fluorescent colors on many canvases. The title “…song of the dark” takes inspiration from various song titles from the death-doom subgenre of heavy metal music. This genre of music, like these paintings, is tonally dark and heavy, but through artistry, craft, and an exciting energy, it transports one into a lighter space.

LYDIA FARRELL’S BIO 

Lydia Farrell (They/Them) is an artist working in Littleton, CO, where they also grew up. They earned a BA from Knox College, a post-baccalaureate certificate from Brandeis University, and an MFA from Boston University in 2015. Farrell returned to Colorado in 2016. Witnessing the changes to Denver’s suburbs continues to be a meaningful point of inspiration for them. They have participated in residencies in Beijing, China, the Vermont Studio Center, and the Art Students League of New York residency at VYT. 

EXHIBITION RUN

• February 6 - May 17, 2024

OPENING RECEPTION

• Tuesday, February 6th from 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm.

CLOSING RECEPTION

• Friday, May 17th, from 4:00-6:00pm

GALLERY HOURS

• Monday through Friday, 11 am - 4 pm.

PRESS

• Denver Post Review by Ray Rinaldi

Download the gallery guide

ABOUT THE ROTUNDA GALLERY

The Rotunda Gallery focuses on exhibitions featuring work by the RMCAD faculty, alumni, and local artists and designers in one of the college’s most unique buildings. The Rotunda Gallery is located at 1600 Pierce Street, Denver, CO 80214.