At the core of my artistic practice is a curiosity with the concept of containment. To be contained implies that something is present, held, and supported, but it also means bound, stifled, restrained, and controlled; it all depends on how you look at it. I draw inspiration from this liminality and explore the spaces and boundaries between what we know and what we fear about ourselves: the uncomfortable, the unknown.
Fueled by an obsession with color and the possibilities of paper, I work with various media including drawing, painting, printmaking, papermaking, and installation.
Abstract compositions often begin by exploring text. Words become titles, visual or conceptual prompts, and imagery that hint at meaning.
Words and phrases come from conversations, songs, books, movies, social media, advertising, and my own writing. I respond, adding layers of imagery. Often twisted into structures like wonky grids, mazes, and spirals, the imagery in my work examines notions of balance, fear, hope, and curiosity. Common motifs and themes are portals and pockets, openings and exits, barriers and possibilities, release and growing pressure, and chaos and clarity. Loaded with symbolic significance, these landscapes of the mind reflect universal human challenges and truths.
Patricia Davis (she/her, b. 1985) is a visual artist, curator, and educator. She earned her MFA in Studio Art from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (2016) and a BFA in Studio Art with concentrations in printmaking and sculpture from The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa (2010). During her time at UA, Davis distinguished herself as a first-generation Ronald E. McNair Scholar and a Windgate Fellow, demonstrating her commitment to both academic excellence and artistic innovation. Her international experience includes studying at the Santa Reparata International School of Art in Florence, Italy, where she deepened her artistic practice and cultural perspective.
Davis has shown in exhibitions across the United States and internationally, reflecting her diverse artistic vision. Her residency at the Cedar Point Biological Station in Ogallala, NE, allowed her to engage deeply with the natural environment, influencing her creative approach. Recently, she served as the Curator and Manager of UNO Art Gallery and Collections at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she developed dynamic programming and exhibitions that fostered community engagement with the arts. In addition to her curatorial role, Davis has held significant positions at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, including Director of the Eisentrager-Howard Gallery, lecturer, and faculty advisor for the MEDICI Student Gallery.
Since moving back to Alabama in 2023, she became a member of the ALWCA. Currently based in Huntsville, Alabama, Davis teaches part-time at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and works as event coordinator for The Land Trust of North Alabama.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Davis enjoys traveling, cycling, hiking, trail running, reading for fun, all things Halloween, conducting kitchen experiments, and the thrill of keeping plants alive.