Village Theatre art exhibition features ‘growth’

A variety of paintings by artist Tiera Knaff

The Village Theater at Cherry Hill will display the works of painter Tiera Knaff through June 28. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Knaff's exhibit, entitled "How Does Your Garden Grow?" examines how that particular question could also relate to human life. Each work in the exhibit consists of elements of self-love, growth, the desire to create from surroundings in a positive light, and the exploration of colors, officials said. 

"My goal is to communicate with my audience that growth is limitless with consistency," said Knaff. "This show is to depict different ranges of growth and understanding of life. I want to create a more colorful and vivid setting that takes you away from reality, and showcases it in a more ‘artificial realism’".

Knaff was born in Detroit and graduated from the Detroit School of Arts majoring in visual arts in 2011 and received a scholarship to attend College for Creative Studies. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in product design. As a child, she received visual art awards for her unique eye for color and creativity. Knaff also attended Marygrove College in Detroit where she discovered her passion for animated characters. As she grew she ventured further into the world of art to discover her own artistic identity, she said.

Known for art that is both realistic and cartoon stylized, Knaff incorporates her cartoon-like creativity with realism infused together to create a unique style combination. She said she finds inspiration from artist KAWS, cartoon programs she watched as a child, and current cartoons, such as Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon, combined with real-life experiences indulging them in a fantasy world. 

Knaff continues to work predominantly in the medium of painting, preferably acrylics, as well as ballpoint pen, ink, and charcoal. Currently, she's been venturing into digital painting and has created logos/graphics for clients upon request, she added. 

This art exhibit at the Gallery@VT is free and open to the public during gallery hours, 10 a.m. until noon Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 6-8 p.m. Thursday or by special appointment arranged via email to elli.fassois@canton-mi.org. The Gallery@VT is located at 50400 Cherry Hill Road, Canton, 48187.  For more information, call (734) 394-5300 or visit www.cantonvillagetheater.org.