Free Bird - An Exhibition by Stephanie Harlan

Stephanie tells us her paintings emerge from that same energy: a balance between control and surrender, structure and chaos, flight and grounding. Each piece begins with fluid underlayers of oil glazes and drips — the stage where she can release control completely. This first layer is free, untamed, and instinctive.  From there, she will build layers that bring in intention and restraint, allowing the work to find its own voice between freedom and form.

Stephanie shares with us why she is inspired by the song Free Bird.  “It reminds me that authenticity is not always easy — it can be lonely, defiant, even misunderstood — but it is essential. To be a “free bird” is to choose honesty over approval, intuition over expectation. They speak to moments of letting go, of trusting the process, and of standing in one’s own skin without apology. In this exhibition, I invite viewers…