Passion, Promise, and Resilience

Carol Folino’s body of artwork began as an exploration of her journey dealing with grief, loss, and anxiety in the form of portraiture. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, a notable shift in her artwork occurred as she became interested in expressing the plight of others who have demonstrated courage in the face of adversity.

During this time, she witnessed the intersection of two pandemics: COVID-19 and racism. 2020 saw a rash of protests arise against racial oppression and brutality. Many of her portraits in the exhibition, “Passion, Promise, and Resilience”, reflect this racial reckoning and combine images from both a historical and contemporary context.

Other pieces in her collection depict social justice issues and investigate human rights abuses such as the impact of Canadian residential schools on Indigenous communities or the courageous resolve of the Ukrainian people during the Russian-Ukraine war.

Her most recent portraits continue to celebrate stories of courage and excellence in individuals who have faced overwhelming barriers. Many of her paintings showcase individuals who have excelled in the fields of literature, music, athletics, or social justice in spite of the prejudices they have had to face because of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, education and/or ethnicity.

Turbulent water, rich colours, powerful text, cracked deserts, fluid lines, wispy smoke, and breathtaking canyons are the images that consistently appear in her pieces. Iconic faces and inspiring individuals are set against a backdrop of vibrant colours, water, or canyons to emphasize the power of their purpose and the formidable odds they have had to face on their journey.

Folino’s paintings are done in acrylic paint and some contain gel transfers of text. A few pieces have acrylic pouring liquid that spills off the edges to symbolize the overflow of emotion and thought. The fluid and organic lines of Art Nouveau have influenced her artwork greatly and there are always undulating shapes and lines that course through her backgrounds to illustrate the constant movement of mind and emotions.

Folino’s body of work focuses both on self-portraits and stories of individuals from a variety of marginalized communities and backgrounds that have defied the odds in the midst of unfathomable experiences. By moving beyond her own journey to capture these powerful stories of resilience and bravery, she hopes to inspire change.

Her recent artwork acts as a historical record of some of the most impactful stories that have touched our local community and global village. What started out as a way to process her own anxiety has turned into a collection of courageous portraits that offer hope and connection, and illustrate the deep well of emotions that is part of the human experience.

www.carolfolinoart.com