Angela Ellsworth - Pantaloncini: Balconies/Galleries (Agnes) 2017
In Memory of Our Sisters (Jane I), 2023

Angela Ellsworth (b. 1964, Palo Alto, California) is a multidisciplinary artist. Her art explores identity, culture, and tradition, intertwining personal narratives with societal themes. A notable series in Ellsworth’s work is The Seer Bonnets: A Continuing Offense, featuring sculptural bonnets adorned with thousands of steel, pearl-tipped corsage pins. These pieces draw inspiration from the thirty-five wives of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon faith, who were seen as possessors of “tools of translation” for interpreting spiritual messages.

Ellsworth reinterprets these historical symbols, honoring women’s contributions and emphasizing their roles as visionaries. The bonnets symbolize resilience, spirituality, and the act of creation that extends beyond religious texts into personal and collective histories.

Her broader body of work examines themes of endurance, the body’s connection to space and time, and societal perceptions of health. By integrating performance, sculpture, and historical narrative elements, Ellsworth offers personal and universal insights into power, gender, and spirituality.

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