In Folded Landscapes, presented by Artspace Warehouse, contemporary artists explore the intersection of form and content through the lens of artworks that are folded or depict forms created by layers and folds. The exhibition invites the viewer to delve into the intricacies of a world where creases and pleats act as windows into the intention of the artist and layers of meaning. By showcasing works that play with depth, perspective, and dimensionality, Folded Landscapes highlights the versatility of the fold as both a formal device and a symbolic one, revealing new perspectives on the fabric of the artistic process.
Mexican artist Emilio Rama’s original artworks are characterized by using elements and references to Pop Culture with a critical eye on consumption and entertainment. The graphic composition of his paintings reflects the fragility of our environment and our tendency to overuse resources by presenting conventional objects as paper figures. However, Rama’s works are not all about protest, they are instead meant to be fun, and rich in texture, colors, and figures.
Using an impasto, painterly technique, Canadian artist Dana Cowie creates cubist-inspired farm and rural landscapes. Working within controlled color schemes, her artworks appear abstract up close and become more representational as the viewer takes in the larger image. Each stylized color represents shadows and grander forms of perspective that capture a more vibrant experience beyond the minute details of the subjects she paints.
Chicago-born artist Len Klikunas constructs altered three-dimensional canvases and paints them to modify experienced reality through visual perception. The “Blocks” series is a mix of art and architecture, hovering between minimalist painting and sculpture. It employs shizen (自然): the Japanese concept of naturalness, the absence of pretense or artificiality. He explores how to articulate the tension of materials and the limits of multi-dimensionality in sculptural paintings. The work is characterized by “mindful artlessness” and simplicity and is understated and subtle.
Hilary Bond, a Baltimore native, received a BFA from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art and an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. Citing Andy Warhol, Willem de Kooning, and Egon Schiele as influences, Bond creates bold depictions of strong women that explore contemporary femininity as well as the concept of the artists’ “muse” and how it relates to female identity. Bond’s bold palette and thick black outlines emphasize female strength and assertiveness, confronting the idea that women must be quiet and submissive.
Inspired by dance and weightlessness, Granville Beals’ modern industrial metal sculptures are primarily about relationships. The choreography of lines and the dynamics of negative space are elements that inform Beals’ work. Concerned with form and abstraction, he does not merely manipulate metals to defy the expectation of the medium forms, but he explores the relationship between the human figure and the landscape, color, and texture, and most importantly between people at an individual and social level.
An expert in both color and composition, French artist Virginie Schroeder started her successful artistic career after moving to Canada in 2009. She creates textural, pop-art-inspired paintings that are abstract, photorealistic, and playful. Schroeder’s artworks are made to inspire new artistic visions, impressing with their stunning technical execution. The artist’s work begins with a realistic sketch which is then deconstructed to her signature striations. Working meticulously, she applies layer upon layer of acrylic and oil paint with a syringe. She reworks each line with a knife to create precise lines. Depth is created by the variation of color and finish.
Since the opening of Artspace Warehouse in 2010, the gallery continues to be an industry leader in affordable, museum-quality artworks making collecting art accessible and budget-friendly. With one gallery in Zurich and two galleries in Los Angeles, Artspace Warehouse specializes in guilt-free international urban, pop, graffiti, figurative, and abstract art. The expansive 5,000-square-foot space offers a large selection of emerging and established artists from all over the world.
