Map of the EU 2021

Gretchen Andrew made "Map of the EU" using what looks like a mix of pencil, collage, and paint, layering images like she's sorting through a dream. The palette is restrained, mostly blues and whites, giving it this cool, cerebral vibe, but the obsessive detail pulls you in close. I find myself focusing on these little bursts of blue that almost look like they're bubbling up from the surface. It’s like the painting is constructing its own world, a parallel universe of high-stakes poker chips and hundred-dollar bills. There's this feeling of things being both representational and totally made up. Her process reminds me a bit of Terry Winters' work, how he builds these complex systems on the canvas that feel both scientific and deeply personal. It’s a reminder that art isn’t about answers, but about embracing the questions.