JOE VOLLAN
inside the academy
feature collection
Opening February 17th, 2023
Arch Enemy Arts presents INSIDE THE ACADEMY, a new solo feature by celebrated doom-folk artist, Joe Vollan. The series is comprised of ten framed graphite drawings on paper, created in secret with limited resources while the artist underwent treatment for a non-fatal suicide attempt this winter:
“There wasn’t a lot to do at the hospital. I found I was really inspired to draw [but] we were only allowed short ‘safety pencils.’ There was a section of concrete floor that I used to file the lead down to get a really fine point…The work itself isn’t about mental illness or suicide; it is just where my head was after going through what I went through and put others through. It was therapeutic, and I felt very free to just draw the first thing that popped into my head.”
The “safety pencils” Vollan used adorn two of the pieces in the series, and we see a kinship between these eccentric creatures and the artist’s signature episodic work. Dark signs and symbols, summoned by the artist’s subconscious, also remind us of the theory of Automatism, adopted by the early Surrealists. Letting the hand run freely with the least possible deliberation, artists may manifest dormant forms that are symbolic in meaning and wisdom, allowing them to express their full truth of feeling, to learn and grow from their innermost imagination.
Works from INSIDE THE ACADEMY are available for purchase and will be on-view through mid-March. Joe Vollan currently lives in Buffalo, NY, and this is the artist’s sixth solo feature with Arch Enemy Arts.
- written by Candice Musher
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions call or text 988. (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
Joe Vollan's INSIDE THE ACADEMY exhibition will be on view from February 17th - March 12th, 2023
Sold works will begin to ship the week after the close of the exhibition, unless other arrangements have been made.
Items marked with a red dot have already been sold.
Payment plans are available. Click the purchase inquiry button below for more details.
"Safety Pencil 2" (2023) cut out graphite drawing on paper mounted dimensionally and displayed with two safety pencils in shadow box 5" x 7" framed $300 USD
"Foxtrot The Charleston"(2023) graphite on paper 8" x 10" framed to 12" x 15" $500 USD
"Orderly Fashion" (2023) graphite on paper 8" x 10" framed to 12" x 15" $500 USD
"The Classic Rock Room" (2023) graphite on paper 8" x 10" framed to 12" x 15" $400 USD
"Pork Fist" (2023) graphite on paper 7" x 5" framed to 11.5" x 9.5" $300 USD
"Disagree and Move On" (2023) graphite on paper 8" x 10" framed to 12" x 15" $500 USD
"Thinking Hat" (2023) graphite on paper 7" x 5" framed to 11.5" x 9.5" $300 USD
"Safety Pencil 1" (2023) cut out graphite drawing on paper mounted dimensionally and displayed with two safety pencils in shadow box 5" x 7" framed $300 USD
"Shark Boy with Tea" (2023) graphite on paper 8" x 10" framed to 12" x 15" $400 USD
"Gary The Hobo" (2023) graphite on paper 8" x 10" framed to 12" x 15" $400 USD
PAST CATALOG WORKS
all work marked with a red dot have been sold
"The devils mask" (2020) Epoxy and acrylic on ceramic mask 6.5” x 9” $650 USD
"'Fine thank you, and yourself?' she seemed to say without uttering a sound" (2022) acrylic on birch panel 13.5" x 10.5" framed to 15.5" x 12.5" $900 USD
"The Hunt Begins" (2021) acrylic on birch panel 8" x 10" $800 USD
"The Rose Peddler" (2022) acrylic on birch panel 15.5" x 19.25" framed to 21" x 25" $1000 USD
"Hot Dog Honkey Tonk Rest Stop" (2022) acrylic on thrifted lazy Susan 19" round $700 USD
"The Devil, The Ugly Fox, and the Singing Snake Head" (2022) acrylic on masonite 15.5" x 19.5" framed to 19.5" x 23.25" $1200 USD
"Scenario 14" (2022) graphite and acrylic on mounted paper 8.5" x 13" framed $250 USD
"Kiss of The Seagoat" (2022) acrylic on birch panel 7.5" x 9.5" framed to 9.5" x 11.5" $700 USD
"Return To Graveside Manor" (2022) acrylic on birch panel 17.5" x 11.5" framed to 21" x 15" $1000 USD
"Plot 7" (2022) graphite and acrylic on mounted paper 8.5" x 13" framed $250 USD
"The Woodsman's New Hands" (2021) acrylic on birch panel 16" x 20" framed to 19" x 26.5" $1200 USD
"The Misunderstanding" (2021) acrylic on panel 11" x 14" $1200 USD
“Agnes” (2021) graphite on paper 4” x 6” framed to 5.5” x 8” $250 USD
"The Poacher" (2021) acrylic on birch panel 9" x 12" $800 USD
"The Collector" (2021) acrylic on birch panel 9" x 12" $800 USD
"The Arrival" (2021) oil on birch panel 12" x 9" $800 USD
"The Invocation of Pooka" (2021) acrylic on birch panel 10" x 14" $800 USD
"The Spoils of War, Vol. 2" (2021) acrylic on birch panel 5" x 7" $300 USD
"The Spoils of War, Vol. 1" (2021) acrylic on birch panel 5" x 7" $300 USD
"Everything Was Just So Mediocre, Thank You..." (2020) acrylic on antique paper 5.25" x 6.25" framed $300 USD
"I Fucking Love Dogs" (2020) pencil and watercolor on paper 5" x 7" framed $250 USD
"We continued on though our hearts grew darker" (2020) pencil and oil on paper 5” x 7” (11” x 12.5” framed) $500 USD
"Bless your black and broken little heart" (2020) oil on masonite 8” x 20” (11.5” x 23.5” framed) $1600 USD
"The snowshoe summer tore us apart" (2020) oil on masonite 8” x 10” (10” x 12” framed) $800 USD
"Birch forest ritual under tide locked moons" (2020) oil on birch panel 4” x 10.5” (5” x 11.5” framed) $500 USD
"Water under the burning bridge" (2020) oil on masonite 8”x10” (10.5”x12.5” framed) $800 USD
"The grim procession crossed graveyard ridge" (2020) oil on masonite 11”x14” (15”x18” framed) $1500 USD
"With a screech, a howl and a clickity-clack..." (2020) oil on birch panel 14”x18” (16.5”x20.5” framed) $2500 USD
"The foxes spoons" (2020) oil and pencil on wood mounted paper, oil on spoons 9” x 11” framed $800 USD
"Such wondrous wonders await yelled the barker" (2020) oil on birch panel 6”x8” (10”x13” framed) $600 USD
"The Summertime Scavengers" (2019) oil on birch panel 13 x 16" framed to 17 x 20" $2000 USD
"It Seemed That The 8 Fingered Butcher Was Losing..." (2019) oil on birch in vintage frame with artist sculpted elements 8 x 14" framed to 11.5 x 15" $1100 USD
"The Witch Who Ate The Wolf" (2019) epoxy clay, acrylic on wooden nesting doll set $2000 USD
"The Inheritance Was Gone Within Hours" (2019) oil on birch in custom painted vintage frame with artist sculpted elements 10 x 12" framed to 13 x 15" $1200 USD
"Ruckus on Brockfield Lane" (2019) oil on birch panel in vintage frame with custom artist sculpted elements 12 x 16" framed to 17 x 20" $1900 USD
"The Devil's Gift" (2019) oil on birch in a vintage frame with custom artist sculpted elements 8 x 10" framed to 10 x 16" $800 USD
"Death Card" (2019) ink on antique paper in antique frame 2.5 x 3.5" framed to 4 x 5" $150 USD
"The Gate to Hell Was the Most Beautiful Thing I Had Ever Seen..." (2018) oil on birch panel 10 x 7" framed to 14" x 10.5" $700 USD
"Let Your Dagger Light the Way" (2018) oil on masonite 5 x 7" framed to 8 x 10" $500 USD
"Six Blind Pallbearers and the Tone Deaf Funeral Singers" (2018) oil on birch panel 10 x 8" framed to 14 x 12" $800 USD
"And Goodbye to The Coal Heaver's Daughter" (2018) oil on birch panel 10 x 8" (13 x 11") framed $800 USD
"Someday When You Tiptoe Over The Pale Poppies" (2018) oil on birch panel 5 x 7" framed to 6.5 x 9" $500 USD
"Agnes Dreams of Falling Flowers" (2018) oil on birch panel 10 x 12" framed to 12 x 14" $1000 USD
"The Gray Eyed Foxes of Summer Have All Gone Away" (2018) oil and graphite on birch panel 5 x 7" framed to 7.75 x 9.5" $500 USD
"The Arsonists Left Town and the Swindlers Moved In" (2018) oil on birch panel 12 x 7.5" framed to 14.5 x 10.5" $800 USD
"Never Speak of This" (2017) acrylic on birch panel 6 x 8" framed to 9.5 x 11.5" $600 USD
"Never Speak of This" (2017) acrylic on birch panel 6 x 8" framed to 9.5 x 11.5" $600 USD