In her symmetrical paintings, Emily Joyce (born 1976, Arlington Heights, IL) explores hidden systems of nature, the built world, and the cosmos. Her paintings are composed of modular and interlocking hexagons, triangles, and concentric circles interspersed by the occasional lily or gilded text. Informed by her early career as a decorative painter, Joyce utilizes faux-bois, gold leafing, spatter painting, stenciling, rag-rolling, and marbelizing, sometimes all in one composition. Containing each technique to its own shape, Joyce creates an unfolding pattern and off-beat rhythm wherein these decorative finishes function as sophisticated painting solutions rather than tromp-l’oeil trickery.
Joyce earned a BFA at Rhode Island School of Design (1998) and participated in the Core Artist Residency program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (1999-2001). Joyce's work is included in many public and private collections, including the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita, KS, and the Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND. Additionally, Joyce is the lyricist and vocalist in the band Puzzle Blood whose debut album was release in 2021. Once annually, she performs stand-up comedy as Piera Nucca da Montefeltro, a world-weary 15th century Italian comedian.
Joyce lives and works in Claremont, CA.