Artist Statement

When was the last time you just... paused? When was the last moment you held silent the thoughts that race, closed all the tabs and just held space for the here and now? When was the last time you allowed yourself to just be and breathe and observe this world that’s whirling around you? My art is an invitation to pause. Get lost in the granular details of your surroundings. Zoom so far into that place, that moment, until that is all there is. Silence the noise and feel.

As someone living with OCD, raising a child, and navigating the daily intensity of a fast-paced career, I turn to art as a place to land - a space where stillness can be cultivated and held. My process offers refuge from the pressure of modern life. It’s a way to slow down, to strip things back, and to honor the breath between the noise.

I work in muted palettes and layered textures, creating minimalistic abstract pieces that feel grounded yet expansive. Though often subtle, my work invites tactile exploration - each surface shaped by both restraint and release.

Earlier in my practice, I was immersed in photorealism, with techniques rooted in precision and control. But life, and motherhood especially, have taught me to let go of outcomes. My process now is intuitive and imperfect by design. Each piece evolves on its own terms. I invite anyone else who suffers from the noise to step away from the overstimulation, the stress and mess of life. Step away and... pause. Embrace this place. Allow a single instant to have a taste of eternity.

Biography​​​​​​​

Ally Cantrell is an Arkansas native residing in downtown Little Rock. She has had an extensive career in the arts having gained recognition in her early years for her photorealistic graphite drawings. Over time she has transitioned away from realistic pencil renderings into abstract mixed media painting. Her work concentrates on the exploration of texture with consideration towards minimalism. It is an invitation to the viewer to step away from the overstimulation we so often experience in this modern world; to instead pause and exist in the granular detail of a moment in time.