The World Is Full of Holes
My work explores the dynamic relationship between destruction and regeneration, where acts of erasure and damage—such as using solvents or tearing into surfaces—become generative forces, opening up new possibilities for meaning, texture, and interpretation. Through the layering process, both physically with oil paint and metaphorically with history, I create a tension between what is concealed and revealed, inviting contemplation on time, memory, and the unseen forces shaping our understanding of the world. In my landscapes, I embody psychological and spiritual states, engaging with themes of trauma, healing, and the buried past, where the earth becomes a living, emotional entity connected to human experience. Drawing on feminist theory and the transformative potential of materiality, I challenge hierarchical structures, positioning the body and the earth as agents of resistance and change. The ambiguity within my work—between the visible and the unseen, the natural and the mystical—invites the viewer to explore layers of history, belief, and identity, offering a space for spiritual and emotional excavation that deepens our connection to the past and the forces that shape our present.
Bio
Molly Dillon was born and raised on the Southern coast of Maine and in the White Mountains. As a painter, her practice is inspired by natural phenomena in her immediate surroundings. Being close to New England's coast and the Western Mountains, her work is informed by where the horizon line meets the sky. Dillon is expected to earn her BFA from The Maine College of Art & Design in the spring of 2025. Her work has been exhibited at 82 Parris Gallery, the Bakery Collective, and MECA&D; all in Portland, Maine. Molly is forever motivated by fresh air but can be found mostly doom-scrolling on Instagram.
