Titled “Soft Moves,” Casey Baden’s show of bright and emotive paintings blends figures with abstracted organic backgrounds; her subjects’ skin tones range from blues and purples to deep oranges reminiscent of Kirchner, and the plants and nature are reduced to simplified, angular forms that become patterns and textures. All but one of the works feature more than one figure, and although they are all touching, none of the subjects look at each other, seemingly in their own thoughts. A large jewel-toned diptych portrays five nude figures relaxing and lying on top of each other, all of them gazing in different directions, while another work depicts a group of four nude friends posing together outside on a cluster of rocks. Separating nudity from sexuality, the works offer a feeling of intimacy, serenity and closeness.

Casey Baden: “Soft Moves”
La Loma Annex
1357 Brixton Road Pasadena, CA 91105
On view through November 26, 202