A recipient of the prestigious SECA Art Award from SFMOMA, San Francisco-based artist, Andrea Higgins is known for her intricate paintings of fabric swatches that draw on the expressive power of textiles to create evocative, abstract portraits. Inspired by childhood trips to Britex Fabrics with her grandmother, and a stay in Indonesia where she observed the labor-intensive process of weaving extravagant sarongs, Higgins “weaves” textile patterns with paint.
After making portrait paintings of the glen-plaids and herring-bones worn by her grandmother, and realizing that the fabrics inspired more memories than any photograph, Higgins became interested in the concept of representing a person through the representation of a textile—a concept she has since explored in portraits of First Ladies and characters from novels. Considering the ubiquitous aesthetic importance of fabric across time and culture, Higgins was also fascinated by the ability of textiles to carry certain associations and to present a particular image of their wearer to the outside world.
Higgins’ works painstakingly reproduce the warp and weft of fabric through meticulously applied layers of paint. From a distance, the larger pattern is evident and seamless; it is only up close, that the thickness and three-dimensionality of her work become apparent, as does the uniformity of the repetitive brushstrokes with which Higgins brings the fibers to life—weaving dynamic images out of paint. In this regard, Higgins’ work is another example of how many small elements can come together to form something much greater than themselves. Between these fibers, the artist also allows the woven nature of the canvas support to show through, calling attention to the self-referential nature of her work—a representation of a textile on a textile. These abstract portraits reflect the personality, taste, and cultural or historical context of their subjects, but they also allow each viewer to bring in their own associations and memories to the work; impacting the work’s significance and making it personally relevant for each viewer.
Though abstract, Higgins’ paintings are uncannily familiar, evoking rich associations and memories that have different, but undeniable significance for each individual viewer. Their source, masterful fabrication, and appeal to the viewer’s imagination, combine to make Higgins’ works both uniquely engaging and incredibly moving.
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Andrea HigginsBeneath the Snow, 2022oil on linen30 x 21 in
76.2 x 53.3 cm -
Andrea HigginsFlowering Calamondin, 2022oil on linen30 x 21 in
76.2 x 53.3 cm -
Andrea HigginsMichelle (Rodriguez), 2021oil on linen42 x 25 in
106.7 x 63.5 cm -
Andrea HigginsMichelle (Wu), 2021oil on linen30 x 21 in
76.2 x 53.3 cm -
Andrea HigginsWillow, 2018oil on linen30 x 21 in
76.2 x 53.3 cm -
Andrea HigginsLady Nijo, 2018oil on linendiptych, overall 24 x 44 1/2 inches/61 x 113 cm
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Andrea HigginsPurple Heart (Self Portrait), 2018oil on linen27 x 72 inches/68.6 x 182.9 cm
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Andrea HigginsEric Fanning, 2016oil on linen26 x 72 inches/66 x 182.9 cm
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Andrea HigginsGoFukakusa, 2009oil on linendiptych, overall 43 x 40 inches/109.2 x 101.6 cm
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Andrea HigginsDorian, 2008oil on canvas, oil on panel28 x 36 inches/71.1 x 91.4 cm
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Andrea HigginsDorian 2, 2008oil on panel28 x 28 inches/71.1 x 71.1 cm
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Andrea HigginsPat, 2007oil on canvas32 1/2 x 40 inches/82.5 x 101.6 cm
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Andrea HigginsSwatch (Continental), 2005oil on canvas24 1/2 x 21 1/4 inches/62.2 x 54 cm
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Andrea HigginsBabbitt, 2004oil on canvastriptych
27 x 24 in/68.6 x 61 cm
27 x 40 in/68.6 x 101.6 cm
27 x 24 in/68.6 x 61 cm -
Andrea HigginsBetty, 2003oil on canvas40 x 23 1/2 inches/101.6 x 59.7 cm
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Andrea HigginsLady Bird, 2003oil on canvas60 x 38 1/2 inches/152.4 x 97.8 cm
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Andrea HigginsJackie (India), 2003oil on canvas24 1/2 x 21 inches/62.2 x 53.3 cm
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Andrea HigginsBarbara, 2002oil on canvas46 x 46 inches/116.8 x 116.8 cm
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Andrea HigginsJackie (Dallas), 2002oil on canvas30 x 37 inches
76.2 x 94 cm -
Andrea HigginsJackie (Bogota), 2002oil on canvas24 1/2 x 21 inches/62.2 x 53.3 cm
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Andrea HigginsHillary, 2002oil on canvas52 x 40 inches/132.1 x 101.6 cm
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Andrea HigginsNancy, 2002oil on canvas70 x 35 inches/177.8 x 88.9 cm
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Andrea HigginsLaura, 2001oil on canvas52 x 52 inches/132.1 x 132.1 cm
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OFF THE GRID: Post-Formal Conceptualism
11 Apr - 20 May 2023This sprawling group exhibition traces the use of the form of the grid in contemporary art, beginning with some of its most illustrious mid-20th century proponents. From there, it examines...Read more -
Where We Are
23 Oct - 24 Nov 2021In a group exhibition marking this moment in history (and celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hosfelt Gallery) the work of 34 artists is employed to reflect on the zeitgeist of...Read more -
20th Anniversary Exhibition
Banerjee, Campbell, Crotty, DeFeo, Hawkinson, Higgins, Kürten, Lukas, Maggi, O'Reilly, Ouadahi, Piccinini, Porter, Pwerle, Rath, Rodriguez, Schoultz, Wiley, Basquiat, Cave, Hansen, Ruscha, Sikander, and Wilke. 9 Sep - 8 Oct 2016Hosfelt Gallery celebrates its 20th anniversary with an exhibition exploring what makes an artwork significant and lasting, and the qualities that distinguish the most innovative artists of our era. This...Read more -
TIME FLIES
Jim Campbell, Julie W Chang, Anoka Faruqee, Andrea Higgins, Stefan Kürten, Michael Light, Crystal Liu, Marco Maggi, John O'Reilly, Liliana Porter, Gideon Rubin, John Andrews, Nelleke Beltjens, Jonathan Brand, Anthony Discenza, Alfredo Jar 9 Jul - 13 Aug 2011Celebrating the artists and exhibitions of the past 12 years at our San Francisco location, Time Flies explores permutations of the experience of time, including memory and nostalgia; disruptions and...Read more -
Andrea Higgins
Appearance 24 Oct - 5 Dec 2009GoFukakusa took special pains with his costume. He wore a yellow informal robe lined in green, with a design of burnet flowers worked into it, over a light violet gown...Read more -
SUMMER READING: Artists Interpret Literature
Blackwell, Campbell, Chang, Dill, Grubin, Hicks, Higgins, O'Reilly, Rodriguez, Ramirez Jonas, Porter, Tiscornia 21 Jun - 9 Aug 2008The emphasis of this exhibition is not on illustration, but rather a conceptual response to, or interpretations of, stories, characters and texts. Although Jim Campbell has never actually read the...Read more -
PATTERN VS. DECORATION
Chang, Danziger, Faruqee, Phungrasamee Fein, Haeckel, Higgins, Kürten, Liu, Ouadahi, Rodriguez, Adibi, Brand, Dopp, El Hanani, Grubin, Hackett, Hoferer, Mayer, Napangardi, Outlaw, Stenger, Wasson 12 Jul - 14 Aug 2007New York Gallery The “Pattern and Decoration” movement of the 1970s arose in response to the emergence of Minimalism and its strictures. It derived in part from Pop Art’s exuberant...Read more -
PATTERN VS. DECORATION
Chang, Danziger, Faruqee, Phungrasamee Fein, Haeckel, Higgins, Kürten, Liu, Ouadahi, Rodriguez, Adibi, Brand, Dopp, El Hanani, Grubin, Hackett, Hoferer, Mayer, Napangardi, Outlaw, Stenger, Wasson 16 Jun - 4 Aug 2007The “Pattern and Decoration” movement of the 1970s arose in response to the emergence of Minimalism and its strictures. It derived in part from Pop Art’s exuberant cultural mining and...Read more -
HOSFELT GALLERY NEW YORK Preview
Campbell, Faruqee, Phungrasamee Fein, Higgins, Light, Liu, Maggi, Porter, Rubin, Andrews, Barnes, Beltjens, Chippendale, Dopp, Horn, Hsu, Kremer, Napangardi, Outlaw, Rose 18 Feb - 25 Mar 2006New York Gallery Hosfelt Gallery is pleased to present the inaugural exhibition in its new Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, venue. The exhibition spaces are designed around concepts of spatial flow and...Read more -
Andrea Higgins
The Presidents’ Wives 12 Oct - 30 Nov 2002Once, during the Reagan administration, when Barbara Bush turned up for a luncheon in the First Lady’s trademark color, Mrs. Reagan shrieked, “Never wear red again as long as I...Read more -
New Work: Contemporary Figuration
Campbell, Higgins, O'Reilly, Porter, Barnes, Chalmers, Dijkstra, Discenza, Dumas, Jaar, Linder, McCarthy, Neshat, Raff 17 Mar - 19 May 2001The third in a series of thematic exhibitions investigating the current state of a particular style, subject, or medium in contemporary art, this show brings together work by a group...Read more -
Three California Abstractionists
Andrea Higgins, Roy Thurston, Leonard Paschoal 14 Oct - 22 Nov 2000ROY THURSTON – “Stainless Steel Paintings” In this exhibition, Los Angelino Roy Thurston’s “paintings” actually aren’t paintings. This group of new work consists of small, thick, rectilinear panels of stainless...Read more
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The Grid Revisited
David M. Roth, Squarecylinder, May 1, 2023 -
Andrea Higgins at The Art Show
San Francisco Magazine, September 1, 2022 -
Critic’s Eye View: Fog Design + Art
David M. Roth, SquareCylinder, January 18, 2019 -
Higgins at Hosfelt
Kenneth Baker, San Francisco Chronicle, November 7, 2009 -
'Appearance': Andrea Higgins' fresh paintings
Ari Messer, San Francisco Chronicle, October 22, 2009
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HG Magazine Issue no. 6
Studio Visits: Lokai, Piccinini, Porter, Fein, Wiley, Schoultz, Kürten - plus GF carrot muffin recipe May 14, 2020Visit the studios of Bernard Lokai, Patricia Piccinini, Liliana Porter, Nicole Phungrasamee Fein, William T. Wiley, Andrew Schoultz and Stefan Kürten Andrea Higgins shares a...Read more -
HG Magazine Issue no. 3
Surabhi Saraf, Andrea Higgins, Rosie Lee Tompkins @ Berkeley Art Museum, soda bread recipe April 23, 2020Surabhi Saraf's mesmerizing video FOLD is featured Andrea Higgins shares a work in progress from her studio New to Inventory: Emil Lukas We recommend...Read more
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ADAA: The Art Show - Andrea Higgins
2 - 6 Nov 2022Color-field or feminist portrait painting? These smart, post-minimal abstractions—optical and shimmery—controvert the historical notion that non-representational painting is without content. Andrea Higgins painstakingly reproduces the...Read more -
FOG Design+Art: Andrea Higgins
17 - 20 Jan 2019Hosfelt Gallery will present a solo exhibition of paintings by SECA Art Award recipient Andrea Higgins. Color-field or portrait painting? Andrea Higgins reproduces the warp...Read more