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_Pet rock_  
Vanessa Maltese

Generously supported by La Fondation Emmanuelle Gattuso.

_Pet rock_ is a hand-patinated and painted bronze sculpture cast from a found stone. Exploring the psychological phenomenon of pareidolia, in which recognizable patterns are seen in random visual material, _Pet rock_ bears an uncanny resemblance to a face with two eyes and a furrowed brow.

The Gattuso Edition is a gift for ticketholders and supporting donors of the annual C Magazine Contemporary Art Auction. Please [contact us](mail:info@cmagazine.com) for more information about making a supporting donation.

Vanessa Maltese  
_Pet rock_  
2019  
Patinated bronze, lacquer, enamel paint  
Edition of 55 unique pieces

Vanessa Maltese explores human perception and attempts to draw out psychological responses where phenomenology and the acts of seeing and being are addressed and challenged. Maltese holds a BFA from OCAD University, and is the winner of the 2012 RBC Canadian Painting Competition, as well as the 2018 recipient of the Glenfiddich Artists in Residence Program Prize. Recent and notable exhibitions include Night Gallery (Los Angeles), Shane Campbell Gallery (Chicago), Nicelle Beauchene Gallery (New York), Greenpoint Terminal Gallery (Brooklyn), Halsey McKay (East Hampton), Carl Louie (London, ON), the Power Plant (Toronto) and COOPER COLE (Toronto). Her work has been reviewed in national and international publications including in Frieze, Artforum and C Magazine. Maltese currently lives and works in Toronto and is represented by COOPER COLE (Toronto). 

[vanessamaltese.com](http://vanessamaltese.com)