In Ancestry, Devlin Shea turns her attention to the subtle inheritances embedded within everyday encounters. The work continues her exploration of observed vignettes, focusing on moments where proximity carries emotional residue.

As in her painting practice, Shea compresses the composition through close cropping, drawing the viewer into an intimate psychological space. The figures appear suspended in relation to one another — their gestures partial, their expressions withheld. The tension lies not in overt action, but in what remains unsaid.

Layering plays a central role in the construction of the image. Fragments accumulate and overlap, suggesting memory as something built rather than fixed. In Ancestry, this accumulation feels particularly resonant: histories—personal or generational—seem to press subtly against the present moment.

The Risograph process intensifies this sense of build-up. The visible layering of ink mirrors the emotional sedimentation at the core of Shea’s work, preserving its density while distilling it into a concentrated format.

Ancestry is produced in a strictly limited edition of 100.

Learn more about artist Devlin Shea