Anya Tish Gallery is thrilled to announce High Voltage, the debut solo exhibition of Texas-based Italian American artist Marcella Colavecchio. The exhibition features a vibrant and emotionally charged collection of figurative oil paintings and contemporary still lifes, alongside an interactive sculpture with an auditory element. In High Voltage, Colavecchio takes us on an electrifying journey examining the American Dream - an aspiration that has defined generations but often comes at a significant cost. Drawing from deeply personal narratives grounded in her family’s immigrant experience - particularly her parents' postwar life in Italy and immigration to the United States - High Voltage offers a poignant and critical reflection on sacrifice, displacement, identity, and a broader critique of social systems.  

Visually intense and conceptually rich, Colavecchio’s compositions are densely layered with symbolic imagery of stacked music equipment, vintage records, family heirlooms, and personal ephemera that serve as metaphors for intergenerational sacrifice and creative compromise. These chaotic and rebellious assemblages evoke a visceral tension - objects teeter on the brink of collapse, symbolizing both the instability and nostalgia inherent in holding onto the past while navigating the present. Colavecchio’s dynamic use of saturated colors and cluttered spatial arrangements challenge the viewer’s comfort and invite introspection. The work resonates particularly in our current era, where questions around immigration, labor, and identity remain ever urgent.  

From the Artist: My father’s story is one of sacrifice and hope. He sold his beloved bass guitar and all his equipment, arriving in America with just $20 in his pocket, ready to build a new future. The promise of creativity and freedom was quickly overshadowed by the harsh realities of a capitalistic society, where the pursuit of art and expression often takes a back seat to the relentless demands of survival. … Through High Voltage, I hope to spark a dialogue about the complexities of aspiration, sacrifice, and the pursuit of happiness in a world that often prioritizes profit over people.”