Sally Davies’ paintings shine light on contemporary consumer culture by focusing on the power of human desire and its ability to transform mundane objects into fetishes. In ‘Painting No. 941’, Davies portrays the Jackie Onassis’ sofa, which had a large draw at a 1996 Sotheby’s auction. The sofa’s connection to Jackie O, one of the most influential, imitated, and beloved icon of contemporary society, makes this ordinary piece of furniture an object of desire. By featuring the sofa, Davies comments on the absurdity in the belief that owning such objects will improve social standings and even help define our role in society. Davies’ paintings are numbered, signed, copyrighted and dated to emphasize that these are also products that play into our cultural value system.

Inspired by the ever changing landscape of New York City, Sally Davies (b.1956) reflects through painting and photographs on the past, present, and future of urban culture. Depicting her environment, Davies both celebrates and critiques society by representing the city’s inhabitants through the objects they buy and use, the streets the walk on, and the markings they leave. A native Canadian, Davies has been living and working in New York for over three decades. Her work has been featured in solo exhibitions at the Gracie Mansion Gallery, New York, NY (2000); Bucknell University Center Gallery, Lewisburg, PA (1999); OK Harris Gallery, New York, NY (1996); and Galerie Barbara Silverberg, Quebec, Canada (1994).