Gabrielle Shelton
Stacked. ,2023
Powder Coated Steel
72" x 18" x 18"
 
Steel stair-form sculptures rise with austere precision; their minimal silhouettes distilled to essential planes and risers. Each is powder-coated in hues drawn from iconic Chanel nail polish shades‚ inky noir, Coco Blue, Le Vernis, and a soft, powdery pink‚Äîtranslating cosmetic intimacy into architectural restraint. The matte finish tempers the industrial weight of steel, lending the surfaces a tactile, almost skin-like softness. Together, the works balance perceived femininity and severity, fashion and function, monument, and object. They read as abstracted passages or frozen ascents, evoking movement, luxury, and discipline within a rigorously minimal vocabulary.