Hannah Wardlow

Hannah Wardlow (b. 2003) is a talented painter from Cincinnati, Ohio, who is making a name for herself in the art world. Currently on track to receive her B.F.A. in painting from Northern Kentucky University in spring 2026, Hannah has consistently earned the EDGE award for outstanding grades every year since she began her college journey. She has also been awarded the Hyde Park Art Show scholarship for this fall semester. Her artwork often features flora, fauna, and the feminine form, exploring macabre themes that draw from her personal experiences and stories. Through her creations, Hannah examines the intricate connections between the natural and human worlds, revealing how they influence each other in both positive and negative ways. In addition, she is a teaching assistant for Painting 1 at Northern Kentucky University, supporting Professor Kevin Muente. As she prepares for her graduate show titled Last Words, which addresses oppressive comments directed at women, interested parties are encouraged to contact us for more information about her evolving artistic journey.

I am a painter, Hannah Wardlow, who explores the themes of flora, fauna, and the macabre through the use of color and texture, employing acrylic paint alongside techniques inspired by oil painting. I enjoy investigating the emotional impact that color can have in a piece, while also using exaggeration to enhance the mood or expression of my subject matter. My work draws inspiration from the Art Nouveau period, particularly the illustrator Alfonz Mucha, and Pop-Art influences like Roy Lichtenstein. I examine Mucha's use of composition, symbolism, and stylistic line work, while I focus on Lichtenstein's vibrant use of color, pattern, and emotion. Animals often serve as subjects in my art, as I find they can symbolize various emotions, people, or events I wish to convey. This allows me to exaggerate expressions of fear, anger, and disgust while maintaining an air of mystique through their non-human faces. To me, the act of painting resembles flowing water, transforming each brush stroke into the emotions I pour into every piece. I enjoy dancing between the lines of realism and stylistic exaggeration within each work. By employing a playful stylization of brush strokes and a vivid color palette, I create a sense of light-heartedness, while the more realistically depicted gory actions of the subjects instill a sense of unease throughout my work.