Erin Trefry: Happy Phantom

Lowell Ryan Projects is pleased to present Happy Phantom, an exhibition by Los Angeles-based artist Erin Trefry. Comprised of a series of eleven figurative paintings in muted tones, Trefry continues her exploration of sentiment, time, and figuration particularly in relation to familial narratives and relationships. On view from January 27th to March 2nd, 2024, this is Erin Trefry’s third solo exhibition at the gallery.  

In this exhibition, Trefry presents her great-grandmother’s paintings, which were originally created in the late 19th century, and depict figurative scenes of romantic settings, exotic locales, and fantastical narratives. These works were passed down through the generations eventually landing in Trefry’s possession. The family does not know much about their late relative’s motivations; however, they are aware that she was self-taught and that the paintings were shown at carnivals and hung like tapestries. In Happy Phantom Trefry subverts the imagery of her late relative, the paintings are presented stretched in reverse so that the viewer is only able to see the backside of the works where the paint has bled through the fabric. Behind the paintings, a layer of muslin conceals the surfaces of the original paintings.   

With Happy Phantom, Trefry poses questions. How do we understand and make sense of our history? How do we understand cultural trends through the context of their era? How do we interpret modern day moral and societal critiques in light of our own familial histories? What are the implications of concealing the past? Who do we grant the power to tell these narratives? These artworks elevated to the status of visual artifacts, resonate with avant-garde principles reminiscent of Dadaism and Duchampian conceptualism. Blending joy with mystery and critique with homage, Trefry contemplates prevailing philosophical questions through a sentimental whisper of the past.