Born in Texas and raised internationally, Carmen Crawford has always been connected to visual art. Crawford grew up drawing, painting, and in high school, became interested in photography. Crawford studied art theory and practice in Chicago and pursued painting as her primary focus. Crawford’s practice is an ongoing exploration of color, composition, and imagery informed by an extensive dialogue with art history. The subject matter of interest ranges from still life, to landscapes, portraits of friends and figurative work influenced by various cultures and inspirations from Crawford’s youth. Crawford’s colors and figures evoke the world of David Hockney and gestural landscape brushstrokes draw from Van Gogh’s influence in a modern setting. In these paintings and drawings, Crawford ultimately captivates the viewer with her expert handling of paint, the vibrant pull of her subjects and cinematic vision of life.