Gwen Hauser - Studio 205
The MAP SERIES serves as a profound excavation of women’s sidelined histories and the heavy emotional labor of caregiving. Through these works, I chart the psychological terrain of saying goodbye to loved ones while grappling with the elusive nature of grief. My process begins on large, raw canvases where intentional disorder sets the stage. I build each surface through a tactile accumulation of plaster, pigments, and precious metal leaves, integrating vintage photography and news clippings from the 1900s. By sanding back these layers, I exhume the spirits of the past, illustrating how feminine legacies are often obscured by time. I incorporate geometric symbols—circles, grids, and double helixes—as beacons of order and social evolution, lighting a way toward a more balanced future. By positioning women as the essential keepers of our heritage, the collection celebrates ancestral power and shared remembrance. I employ cross-cultural icons and Kanji characters to articulate experiences that transcend verbal expression. Each painting is paired with a unique sculptural guide protected within an heirloom silverware box. These assemblages serve as legends for my cartography, decoding the intricate metaphors found on the canvas. Rooted in deep reflection and feminist focus, my art invites the audience to explore these maps as a bridge between the physical and the mythical, the fleeting and the eternal. Within these textured intersections, the enduring strength of the female voice is continuously rediscovered, recalibrating our perspective on the history we all share.
Map Series
Map 331 – A Frequency Shift
Painting: 48"x 44" Assemblage: 17 "x 12 "x 4"
Map 322 - Sitting in the Middle, Resting
Painting: 57" x 48" Assemblage 17" x 12" x 4"
Map 328 – Ambiguous Loss
Painting: 55" x 46" Assemblage: 16" x 11" x 3"
Honoring women's stories through the ages
I complement every painting with a sculptural assemblage crafted from vintage wooden silverware boxes. These pieces act as vital interpretive guides, providing a key to help viewers unlock the icons, symbols, and intricate stories woven into the canvas.
Map 326-A Letter From Hulda
Painting: 52" x 35" Assemblage: 18" x 12" x 4"
Map 324 – Femicide
Painting: 57" x 47" Assemblage: 17" x 11"x 6"
Map 333- Honoring a Blackfoot Medicine Woman Painting: 60" x 47" Assemblage: 14" x 11" x 5"
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Map 329-Another Point in Time
Painting: 51" x 43" Assemblage: 17" x 12" x 4"
Map 332- Reconstructing lost stories
Painting: 49" x 44" Assemblage: 17" x 11" x 4"
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Map 330-Mesopotamian Tree of Life
Painting: 55" x 48" Assemblages: 18" x 14" x 12"
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Based in White Bear Lake Minnesota, Gwen Hauser works from a studio beside her log cabin home. She holds a BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, furthered her studies at the Minnesota River School Atelier, and expanded her practice during a residency in Tuscany, Italy. Known for her acclaimed Map Series, she creates expansive mixed-media paintings paired with symbolic sculptural assemblages inside vintage silverware boxes. Her work explores hidden women's histories and has been exhibited at venues like the Minneapolis Foundation and showcased on PBS’s MN Original.
Artist Journey
Working from my studio in Minnesota, I strive to illuminate the feminine histories that are frequently left in the shadows. This collection reflects my journey of tracing the threads of womanhood, connecting ancient spiritual symbols with the forgotten figures of our present. Through rich layers of mixed media, I document these fragile memories to ensure they remain anchored in our world.
To create is to bridge the gap between yesterday and tomorrow. I use textured mediums to celebrate the enduring strength of women, transforming their silent endurance into a visual echo for us to hear.
The Map Series
This ongoing collection represents my commitment to feminist storytelling through art. Each painting serves as a visual document, ensuring that the legacy of these women is never erased or overlooked by time.
Minnesota Studio
Based in the heart of Minnesota, my practice is a grounded exploration of history and identity. It is here that I examine how we can rebuild our collective memory to include the diverse stories of women.
Fine Art Degree
My formal education provided the technical foundation for my work, but my passion for social history drives the narrative. I continue to evolve my technique to better serve the powerful stories I chart.