For Taryn Boals’ upcoming solo show at Gallery Wild, the horse remains her main character, but its role has evolved. Where the artist once used horse iconography to discuss history or empathy, Boals is now focused on the animal’s raw power and the battle for balance.
In the Sage, mixed media, 11 x 14 in.
“I have expanded on this through a sense of play with motion, incorporating dynamic compositions that mirror a life lived at a fast-forward pace,” the artist explains. “When I initially started this show, I intended to create soft, contemplative pieces with subtle color. However, the result ended up being the opposite: louder, more active lines and a bold play with color. My world is loud right now—from external events to the multi-tasking demands of domestic life—and these pieces reflect that high-velocity energy.”
Sky High, mixed media, 40 x 30 in.
Boals also admits that she gave herself permission to “play” when creating the new body of work—to simply respond and have fun. “I think it shows,” she adds. “The mark-making, colors and lines are all amplified. I’ve embraced the restlessness of my own creative process, allowing myself to jump between raw, instinctual line work and complex, layered paintings. While the approach changes with my mood, the show is unified by a singular, high-octane energy.”
We see this energy expressed in paintings like Troublemaker,depicting a cowboy about to be bucked off a horse. The image is set against a swath of bold color and unique mark making. “[This piece] serves as a touchstone for my current direction,” says Boals. “It captures the essence of the show: an embrace of high-contrast palettes and a deliberate experimentation with line. To achieve this, I stepped outside my standard toolkit, employing non-traditional instruments to push the mark-making into new territory. The result is a work that prioritizes the thrill of the process over formal restraint.”
Troublemaker, mixed media, 24 x 24 in.
Other show pieces, like In the Sage, are a nod to the artist’s more traditional background in realism. “I wanted to play with a vintage feel and a shift in subject matter to challenge the pace of the show,” Boals shares. “It’s a bit of a departure from the louder pieces, but it shares that same sense of play—just through a more classic, nostalgic lens.”
Collectors will also see a quieter scene in For the Time Being,representing the more nuanced, reflective side of the new collection. “By exploring time and space through quiet layers and deep dimension, this piece offers a counterpoint to the show’s more amplified works,” Boals says. “It’s a moment of deliberate stillness—a fun, layered exploration of what it means to be present in the pause.”
For the Time Being, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 40 in.
To see the full scope of the show, hanging June 18 through 30, head to Gallery Wild’s location in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. An artist reception will be held on the opening day from 5 to 8 p.m. in the gallery. —
Gallery Wild 80 W. Broadway » Jackson Hole, WY 83001 » (307) 203-2322 » www.gallerywild.com
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