You’ll never look at squirrels the same way once you’ve seen the finely detailed paintings of Carollyne Yardley, whose distinctive style (which she dubbed Squirrealism) has earned her international attention. Yardley’s fascination with squirrels began during a time of personal upheaval, when a wounded squirrel appeared in her yard. Nursing the visitor to health, she says, was a strangely transformative experience. Yardley’s work leads us deeper into what it means to be human, even as it explores shapeshifting, animal ancestors and animal-headed humanoid forms such as Ra and Anubis, as she continues to do in her solo shows and in joint shows with Northwest Coast artist Rande Cook.
1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Lunch and conversation at Café Sabarsky, a New York café at Neue Galerie that draws inspiration from the great Viennese cafés of the early 20th century.
2. What is your greatest fear?
Shipping fragile artwork
3. What do you admire most in your friends?
Funniness and wisdom
4. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Slurping
5. Which living person do you most admire?
Google’s algorithm
6. What is your greatest extravagance?
Art supplies
7. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Squirrels
8. On what occasion do you lie?
On the occasion of question 7
9. Where are you happiest?
On the dance floor
10. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Nothing, I’m rad
11. What historical figure do you most identify with?
Lynda Carter as Diana Prince [the secret identity of Wonder Woman]
12. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
A New Yorker
13. What is your most treasured possession?
My library of art books
14. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Loving myself