THE THEOLOGICAL ARTIST
VANESSA
JEAN
FALGOUST
My friends call me "Vanessa, the Theological Artist" — I explore meaning and purpose with paint on canvas. I paint memories: my own, and those relayed to me by others. In those memories lies the sum of a life.
ARTIST STATEMENT
On Memory & Purpose
My experience as a hospice chaplain was a profound honor and changed my purpose for creating artwork. Recent work endeavors to visually realize the subjective, dreamlike narratives of memories and memories of memories — wherein lies the sum of a person's life.
My paintings are my own memories, and memories of memories relayed to me. The realm of memories in the imagination has a logic of its own, and thus defies rules of "objective" rendering.
While my background in figure drawing, anatomy, and traditional painting techniques is invaluable, I am now exploring color and perspective as instruments in the visual narration of memories and their impact on the self.
I experience painting to be organic, magical, and dialectic. Thus, my images are found in the process, and I leave evidence of the search. While I begin with a compositional idea and sketches, my paintings evolve on their own.
BACKGROUND
A Life in Art & Spirit
My father, Hymel Falgoust, was an artist and Professor of Art at Southeastern Louisiana University. He encouraged me to draw and paint as a child. Both my mother and father understood that what is most meaningful is best expressed in metaphor.
I initially explored meaning intellectually — earning a B.A. in Religion and Philosophy from Texas Christian University, then attending Yale Divinity School with the goal of aiding others in spiritual metamorphosis. I also studied figure drawing, anatomy, and traditional painting techniques at the Art Students' League of New York City.
After returning from a term in Overseas Ministries in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), my father encouraged me to pursue drawing and painting more seriously. I eventually earned an M.F.A. from the San Francisco Art Institute, which had a legacy of figurative painting. One of my pieces was selected for the Bay Area M.F.A. Honors' Exhibition — ten artists chosen from all M.F.A. programs in the region.
Most recently I have studied with Margaret McCann at the Art Students' League, exploring the realization of memories in painting. Among my many influences are my work as a hospice chaplain, Søren Kierkegaard, Gustav Mahler, Rembrandt van Rijn, Vincent van Gogh, and Marc Chagall.
I have made, exhibited, and sold artwork while working as a minister, healthcare chaplain, and hospice chaplain. My ordination is in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I live with my husband Alan Cox, a classical musician and composer, and our dachshund Ringo, in Poughkeepsie, New York.
EDUCATION
FORMATION
M.F.A.
San Francisco Art Institute
Drawing & Painting — Honors' Exhibition
M.Div.
Yale University
Yale Divinity School
B.A.
Texas Christian University
Religion & Philosophy — Honors thesis presented on Honors Day
Studies
Art Students' League of New York City
Figure drawing, anatomy, traditional painting techniques
Studies
L'Académie des Arts
San Giles, Brussels, Belgium
EXHIBITION
Selected Shows
COLLECTIONS
Works Held In
Frederick Christianson
The Reimers-Schneider Foundation
Lew Tabackin and Toshiko Akiyoshi