"Pikes Peak, earth, sand, mica" by Audrey Gray - CSPM
Logo for the "50% of the Story: Women Expressing Creativity" Exhibit Banner.

“Pikes Peak, earth, sand, mica” by Audrey Gray

Women have always been creative. Women have always been artistic. Women have always been artists. Yet, their work has remained largely unrecognized. This is not surprising, considering women’s art represents approximately 10% of works collected by museums. 50% of the Story: Women Expressing Creativity transforms the CSPM collection to more accurately reflect the complexity, diversity, and uniqueness of the Pikes Peak region. Using historic artwork and artifacts, alongside contemporary pieces, the 50% exhibit creates a beautiful conversation between women across time, demonstrating how they’ve always told their stories through art and creativity.

– From the CSPM Curator of History

Pikes Peak, earth, sand, mica, Audrey Gray

Artist Statement
Audrey Gray – painting landscapes that I live in out of dirt from places I go.

All of my pigments are real dirt that I have gathered and processed by hand. Each time I take a road trip, a trowel and bags are packed in the car so I can stop along the way. Road-cuts and hillsides across the Southwest yield dirt of myriad hues, from iron-rich reds to soft pinks, ochres, and even green. Coal collected from the Four Corners area provides a deep, beautiful black. Using these materials, I create images of the landscapes that I live in and interact with.

Creating connection with the earth – for me, literally, by getting my hands into it with each piece I make.

Audrey Gray lives and creates in Colorado Springs, where she is close to the mountains and the sky.