Behind the Dinner Party Series

The Dinner Party Series

Eating with one another is often one of the strongest ways of bonding and building community. Some of my fondest memories from my childhood and early adult life have been at my grandmother’s dinner table. She owned every color china which perfectly paired with specific napkins and cutlery, and this same affinity for bringing people together has now passed down to my mother. My mom not only has added to this marvelous collection and style of entertainment, but she has also added her own creative flare to hundreds of magnificent flower arrangements.

I have these reminiscences of my grandfather, Doc, always telling never-ending stories and his belly chuckle laugh still rings clearly in my ears. Many laughs were to be heard along the many tears that were shed. My sister-like cousins and I have always dreamt of commemorating the hilariously told stories spoken from years past into a novel format; however, none of us are the most articulate writers. For me, my way of documenting my recollections of these dinners is best told through my version of storytelling…my artwork.

The Dinner Party Collection is a series of paintings that take me back to sounds and tastes in which can no longer be emulated. Colors and pops of lemon yellow and berry magenta instantly permeate my brain, mixed with visions of whimsical arrangements of pineapples with flowers jutting out and lovely tablecloths adorned with silver. The smell of Cookie’s fried chicken and homemade strawberry pie flood my mind, and the vision of fur coats draped across a chair next to a bar full of martinis stand out.

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Somehow, both my mom and my grandmother always created a table that was effortlessly elegant yet relaxed and inviting. They always had their doors open to neighbors or people passing through my hometown, and dinners notoriously went late into the night.

These paintings tell my story and my memories, but my intentions are to bring you back to nights that you’ll always remember. Whether it was a funny date gone wrong or the last meal with a loved one, I hope that my colors and playful style evoke similar emotions as they did for me.

The Dinner Party Collection is a conglomeration of mixed-media paintings ranging in size and will be released to the public on Thursday, April 30th. To receive early access, sign up to be a VIP Studio Insider here (you’ll also receive exclusive discounts and preview emails by signing up!).

“The heart of hospitality is about creating space for someone to feel seen and heard and loved. It's about declaring your table a safe zone, a place of warmth and nourishment.”

— Shauna Niequist

This was a painting that I did back in college but came back to to reference throughout this body of work.

All good hosts will agree that the right soundtrack is crucial to throwing a good party. So what's on our speakers? This playlist is my go-to and will get any dinner party going. >>

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To see more about what inspires CoCo, check-out her Instagram page at @cocozentner_art!