Work samples
About Chloe
Chloe Irla grew up outside of Richmond, VA but moved around a lot as a teenager. She attended McDaniel College before receiving an MFA from the Mount Royal School of Art at the Maryland Institute College of Art. She has exhibited nationally and in Sofia, Bulgaria, Vancouver, BC, and Gimpo, Korea. Chloe has been a resident artist at the Vermont Studio Center and the Wassaic Project. As an educator, she has… more
irladen
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Garden CapePainted muslin cape featuring my perennial and vegetable garden, 2022
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Backyard CapePainted muslin cape with terracotta medallion, inspired by my backyard during summer 2022
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Pattern Sample BookHandmade wallpaper sample book featuring 26 unique patterns, 12 x 24 inches, 2022
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Bee BalmerJacketFeaturing a busy bee on dewey milkweed in the garden during summer 2022
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A Good Mother Can Do Anything GameIf you haven’t read The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan, close this tab, head to your local independent bookstore, and purchase a copy. A notable phrase (and theme) in the novel is that a good mother can do anything. But we know that they can’t, and the notion of a good mother doing it all is unrealistic. This board game is a metaphor for parenting–there are no rules, and no one wins. The game mat is digitally printed onto fabric and the game pieces are painted terracotta letterforms. A zippered pouch holds all the parts together. Play alone or with a group–again, there are no rules and you’ll never win.
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Mom News! signsPainted terracotta, set of four. Each sign is roughly 6 x 8 inches, 2022
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Goose shirt and accessoriesHandmade terracotta goose stud earrings and necklace with painted goose collar t-shirt, 2022
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Grounded by Things that FlySide 1 of a handmade accordion book, 2022, 3 x 18 inches
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Goose Pot BagHandknit crossbody bag, 2022
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Ceramic House PursePainted terracotta beads inspired by the garden during summer 2022
Home Work
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A Terrible Pandemic for Working MothersHand-knit dress, 2021
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FACE TO FACEHand-knit coat, 2021
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Home WorkInstallation view of works at McDaniel College
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Home WorkInstallation view of works at McDaniel College
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Are You Lost In It Too?Handknit coat with acrylic painting, 2021–2022.
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Are You Lost In It Too?Hand-knit coat with painting, back view
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Home Work: 100 Days of Fall 2020 and PANDEMIC DELIVERS A TRIPLE WHAMMY TO WORKING MOTHERSInstallation view at McDaniel College
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PANDEMIC DELIVERS A TRIPLE WHAMMY TO WORKING MOTHERSHand-knit letterforms on fleece blanket
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MOTHERS: THE USUAL BACKUP PLANDuplicate stitching on crocheted blanket
Home Work: 100 days of fall 2020
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Home Work WearablesDigital illustrations with cast resin jewelry, 2021
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Before TimesScanned hand-knit letterforms, 2021
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HOME WORK LIFEScanned hand-knit letterforms, 2021
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Home Work Key
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VIP Parent Bumper Sticker2021
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Home Work: 100 Days of Fall 2020Data visualization printed on poly-poplin fabric, 2.5 x 8 ft, 2021
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Home Work: Election WeekData visualization, 2021
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Home Work: 100 Days of Fall 2020 and PANDEMIC DELIVERS A TRIPLE WHAMMY TO WORKING MOTHERSInstallation view at McDaniel College
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100 Days detail
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Home Work: Final days of fall semesterData visualization printed on canvas. Each line represents one day.
Snowballtimore Paintings
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Dean's Shaved IceAcrylic on canvas, 2020, 20 x 20 inches
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Rt. 30 SnowballsAcrylic on canvas, 2020, 20 x 20 inches
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Biden for SnowballsAcrylic on canvas, 20 x 20 inches, 2020
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Elizabeth & Ziggy'sAcrylic on canvas, 20 x 20 inches, 2020
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Friendly Sno-ballsAcrylic on canvas, 2020, 20 x 20 inches
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Aloha Sno-ballsAcrylic on canvas, 2020, 20 x 20 inches
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George's SnowballsAcrylic on canvas, 2020, 20 x 20 inches
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Summer DelightsAcrylic on canvas, 2020, 20 x 20 inches
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Walther GardensAcrylic on canvas, 2020, 20 x 20 inches
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Sally's Shack Sno-ballsAcrylic on canvas, 2020, 20 x 20 inches
Snowballtimore
This project began in the summer of 2016 when I visited over a dozen local snowball stands in Baltimore including Walther Gardens (the oldest snowball stand in the country!), One Sweet Moment, Elizabeth & Ziggy’s, Sensational Snowballs, and Summer Delights. I documented the architecture of each snowball stand in the early morning before the stand opened for the day. I then returned to the stand to order what I considered the most unique snowball flavor on the menu and photographed the snowball. I illustrated a map of the locations of each stand and assembled the photographs and map into a small zine (booklet). Each stand has its pros and cons: for example, Elizabeth & Ziggy's has the best ice, but Sensational Snowballs has the best marshmallow. I highlight these traits in posters I’ve been designing since that first summer doing research. My goal with this project is to establish Snowballtimore as an authority and archive for this summer Baltimore tradition and to publicly “certify” city snowball stands as being recognized by this project.
The news in Baltimore is often bleak, especially in the summer when crime rates seem to rise. I hope to promote this positive, community-engaged practice of going to an independently owned, small business establishment and spending time bonding with community members while cooling off with sugary, shaved ice and gooey marshmallow in a styrofoam cup.
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Sun's Out Balls OutDigitally illustrated poster, 12 x 16 inches, 2019
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Snowballtimore, Hon!Digitally illustrated poster, 12 x 16 inches, 2019
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Ice Like Freshly Fallen SnowDigitally illustrated poster, 12 x 16 inches, 2019
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Oldie But GoodieDigitally illustrated poster, 12 x 16 inches, 2019
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Marshmallow is ExtraDigitally illustrated poster, 12 x 16 inches, 2019
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The Smaller the Shack, the Bigger the BallsDigitally illustrated poster, 12 x 16 inches, 2019
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SnowballtimoreDigitally illustrated poster, 12 x 16 inches, 2019
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In the Summer, Size MattersDigitally illustrated poster, 12 x 16 inches, 2019
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Marshmallow Placement MattersDigitally illustrated poster, 12 x 16 inches, 2019
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Don't Call It A ConeDigitally illustrated poster, 12 x 16 inches, 2019
Year One
Irene on Fridays
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Irene IAcrylic, graphite, Contact paper on wood panel, 16 x 16 inches, 2019
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Irene IIAcrylic, Contact paper, grip tape on wood panel, 16 x 16 inches, 2019
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Irene IIIAcrylic, Contact paper on wood panel, 16 x 16 inches, 2019
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Irene IVAcrylic, graphite, Contact paper on wood panel, 16 x 16 inches, 2019
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Irene VAcrylic, graphite, Contact paper on wood panel, 8 x 10 inches, 2019
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Irene VIIITempura, acrylic, Contact paper, grip tape, graphite on wood panel, 24 x 24 inches, 2019
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Irene IXTempura and acrylic on wood panel, 20 x 30 inches, 2019
Pizza Party Twister
The official Twister rules state that Twister is “the perfect fun starter for every party.” I agree with this statement but believe that playing Twister on a giant, delicious looking pizza is a more effective way of beginning what one hopes will be a fun, friendly gathering.
The object of the game is simple: to outmaneuver all other opponents in placing one’s hands and feet on different types of pizza toppings (mushrooms, pepperoni, basil, and olives) as directed by the spinner. Players may participate as individuals or as teams. If one person on a team falls or touches an elbow or a knee to the pizza surface, the entire team loses–this is serious pizza stuff. The referee will use a spinner to determine on which topping participants should place their hands or feet. Players must remove their shoes to participate. Whenever one player falls or allows an elbow or knee to touch the pizza, that player is out and the game continues until only one participant stands victorious. The winner is awarded a handmade ceramic golden pizza slice and is dubbed a Pizza Twisting Legend.
The set-up of the game includes a large circular vinyl mat resembling a pizza that rests on top of Astroturf carpeting to give the game an authentic backyard feel. This is also known as the Pizzarena. Signage includes information about the game’s schedule.
Pizza Party Twister is a means of bringing out the competitive spirit of participants, allowing one to flex their yoga and Pilates muscles while simultaneously inducing the urge to satisfy a craving for hot, delicious pizza.
The Hunter and the Hunted: Made to Measure
The Hunter and The Hunted: Made to Measure presents a lexicon of essential elements and principles that establish the foundation of The Hunter and The Hunted series. The elements and principles of The Hunter and The Hunted are light, warmth, surface, measurement, visibility, organization, transformation, honesty, history, and time. Most of the projects included in the exhibition at McDaniel College were created specifically for the Rice Gallery and are grounded in both institutional and personal memories: I was a McDaniel College student from 2005–2007 and am currently a full-time faculty member. The space that is now the Rice Gallery served as the College’s library from 1909–1961, and for the duration of this exhibition, serves as a library for this body of work. I felt it important to present the building blocks of The Hunter and The Hunted series in an academic setting instilled with its own foundational elements: the seven liberal arts.
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HH: LightInstallation view at McDaniel College, September 2018. The exhibition included a site-specific installation in the gallery windows made from Contact paper and cellophane.
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Installation view at McDaniel College
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Lies Above / Lies HierThe placement of this work in the gallery references the stained glass window ceiling above. The ceiling is a replica of the original stained glass piece, which currently lives in Hoover Library’s Board Room. “Lies hier” in German, a language I studied for 5 years, translates to “Read here,” a reference to the Rice Gallery’s past use as the College’s library.
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Cascading WarmthCascading Warmth Mylar blankets 84 x 56 inches 2018
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HH: OutfitterHH: Outfitter Canvas, embroidery, fishing lures 60 x 28 inches 2018
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HH: RevelationHH: Revelation Bleach on denim, cotton fringe, dyed canvas 2018
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HH: TopographyHH: Topography Wool, steel wool, chicken wire, birch wood, Astroturf, yarn 2018
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Topography detail
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HH: StorageSewn canvas with grommets, 2018
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HH: Trophy QuiltHH: Trophy Quilt Quilt composed of sewn camoflage and blaze orange hunting textile panels. 17 x 6 ft 2018