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Institute of Contemporary Art Miami

Ellen Lesperance

Ellen Lesperance, Amazonknights. Womonspirit. Womonpower. Glory., 2017. Gouache and graphite on tea stained paper. Collection of Institute of Contemporary Art Miami. Museum purchase with fund provided by Helen Kent-Nicoll and Edward J. Nicoll.
Ellen Lesperance, Amazonknights. Womonspirit. Womonpower. Glory., 2017. Gouache and graphite on tea stained paper. Collection of Institute of Contemporary Art Miami. Museum purchase with fund provided by Helen Kent-Nicoll and Edward J. Nicoll.

In this course, students will analyze how Ellen Lesperance’s work pays homage to feminist activism and history through knitting patterns and symbols and will connect with processes traditionally done by women. In the first lesson, students will create embroideries. In the second lesson, students will use graph paper to plan paintings on paper stained with tea.

About Ellen Lesperance

Ellen Lesperance (b.1971, Minneapolis, Minnesota) lives and works in Portland, Oregon. She loves color, using grids (like graph paper) to plan her work, and making things with her hands.

Resources
Installation view: "Ellen Lesperance: Amazonknights" at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, Nov 30, 2021 – Mar 27, 2022. Photo: Zachary Balber
Installation view: "Ellen Lesperance: Amazonknights" at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, Nov 30, 2021 – Mar 27, 2022. Photo: Zachary Balber.
Installation view: "Ellen Lesperance: Amazonknights" at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, Nov 30, 2021 – Mar 27, 2022. Photo: Zachary Balber.
Installation view: "Ellen Lesperance: Amazonknights" at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, Nov 30, 2021 – Mar 27, 2022. Photo: Zachary Balber.
Installation view: "Ellen Lesperance: Amazonknights" at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, Nov 30, 2021 – Mar 27, 2022. Photo: Zachary Balber.