In Case Studies 4: Hilliary Gabryel – Side Sleeper, Gabryel explores themes of consumer culture, resale markets, the American Dream, and gender. The artist transforms vacuum-formed headboards and vanity mirrors popularized by Franco Cozzo, an Italian-Australian salesman whose bedroom sets were often given female names.
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Hilliary Gabryel is a sculptor from Lynchburg, VA; currently living and working in Queens, NY. Gabryel examines aspirational luxury and utilizes mass-produced objects to reflect this crucial part of contemporary American consumer culture where simulation creates a sense of possibility and belonging. In her most recent work, Gabryel intervenes upon second-hand furniture depicting marble, neoclassical design motifs that have been translated into vacuum-formed plastic headboards and vanity mirrors.
She received her BFA and Post Baccalaureate Certificate from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a founding member of MATERIAL GIRLS and co-founder of the interdisciplinary Ridgewood, Queens project space ERA VI VII VI (2014-2016). Her work has been shown at 5-50 Gallery, Paradice Palase, SPRING/BREAK Art Show (New York, NY); Tiger Strikes Asteroid (Los Angeles, CA); Mass Gallery, MOHA (Austin, TX); Sweet Pass Sculpture Park (Dallas, TX); Sadie Halie Projects (Minnesota, MN); Duke Hall Gallery Fine Art (James Madison University, VA); Random Access Gallery (Syracuse University, NY) . Residencies & awards include the Queens Art Fund New Work Grant, Vermont Studio Center Fellowship, and the Wassaic Project.
