Carol Aust's figurative paintings are emotionally-charged narrative fragments infused with mysterious tension and secrecy. She often places her figures in precarious environments where anything could happen. The combination of whimsical scenes and serious emotional depth asks viewers to stop and appreciate the subtle yet deep power in all her works. Sometimes celebratory, sometimes lonely and disturbing, her paintings express a wide range of human desire and yearning. Aust's work consistently features strong and vibrant colors along with figures that are both engaging and vulnerable. Her paintings are emotionally charged parables of ordinary people moving through the landscapes of their lives, often at critical turning points that reflect how the choices we make every day take on a huge magnitude when multiplied over a life time. She has been greatly influenced by artists such as Emil Nolde, Marc Chagall, Kathe Kollwitz, and the German expressionists. Carol Aust shows in galleries in Massachusetts and North Carolina.