Between Light and Memory

In Between Light and Memory, Maine painter Emma Ballou presents a body of atmospheric landscapes that dwell in moments of transition—where day softens into night and darkness slowly yields to light. Working primarily in acrylic on canvas and wood panel, Ballou’s ethereal paintings explore dawn and dusk as emotional landscapes, shaped as much by memory and feeling as by place. Forest paths, open plains, and distant horizons emerge through blurred edges and shifting color, inviting viewers into a quiet, contemplative space where light becomes both subject and metaphor.

Rooted in her lifelong connection to the Maine landscape, Ballou’s work reflects a deeply personal way of seeing—one that prioritizes sensation over strict representation. Influenced by her upbringing in Buxton and years spent immersed in history and museum practice, her paintings suggest rather than define, allowing viewers to project their own experiences into each scene. These moody, luminous works celebrate the balance between light and darkness, presence and memory, offering collectors and viewers alike a timeless meditation on place, atmosphere, and transformation.