Untitled (Diptych) by Mary Ann Aitken is a pair of paintings; one entirely abstract and the other a hybrid of representational and abstract elements. The left-side painting is a cacaphonous all over composition of brushstrokes layered in the artist’s signature primary colors. In the same color scheme, the right-side painting portrays a still life with an arrangement of flowers as its focal point, with marks and splatter spilling from the left-side composition into the right. The color palette unites the pair of works, placing them in conversation despite their stylistic opposition. As in most of her work, the paint is layered on thick in an impasto style. Because of the slow-drying nature of oil paint, Aitken would wait days at a time for a single layer to dry before working the next layer, demonstrating a degree of patience with the medium similar to that of old masters. Time and effort are evidenced in her strokes, the visible brushwork reminds the viewer of the labor of its construction, rather than presenting a seamless representation of its subject.
Mary Ann Aitken was known to be very private about her art practice; she was considered somewhat of an outsider by her peers affiliated with the second wave of Detroit’s Cass Corridor arts movement. Aitken created observational paintings that transcribed ubiquitous imagery of still lifes and street views, some from near her parents’ home and others looking out the window of her studio. She typically employed colors reminiscent of everyday objects in ways that rendered her abstracted views of quotidian scenes unfamiliar. Aitken always followed the same routine in building up her paintings, beginning with flat strokes, then adding numerous layers over the course of months or years. Aitken’s paintings are immensely personal, yet approachable because of her use of images from everyday life.
Compositions such as Tree on Keystone (2011) become hyperreal versions of their real-world equivalents...
James Ensor: series of anniversary shows to reveal ‘the man behind the mask’ Art market Museums & heritage Exhibitions Books Podcasts Columns Technology Adventures with Van Gogh Search Search Exhibitions news James Ensor: series of anniversary shows to reveal ‘the man behind the mask’ Belgium commemorates 75 years since the artist's death with a year-long season of exhibitions and events, often highlighting the lesser known aspects of his work Eddi Fiegel 15 December 2023 Share James Ensor, Pierrot and skeleton in a yellow robe (1893) Photo: Hugo Maertens The Belgian artist James Ensor may be easily recognisable for the macabre faces that so often feature in his works, but a major new season of exhibitions and events in his home country aims to reveal “the man behind the mask”...
From ferns to meteorites: new book explores the beautiful mysteries of nature printing Art market Museums & heritage Exhibitions Books Podcasts Columns Technology Adventures with Van Gogh Search Search Books review From ferns to meteorites: new book explores the beautiful mysteries of nature printing A rare collection of images created by the impressions of natural objects Tabitha Barber 8 December 2023 Share Image by Alois Auer Von Welsbach, a pioneer of nature printing who likened his discovery to the invention of writing and the Gutenberg press Vienna, Kaiserlich-Königlichen Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, 1854...
Workplace Is Building a Community-Led Gallery with Roots in England’s North East | Artsy Skip to Main Content Advertisement Art Market Workplace Is Building a Community-Led Gallery with Roots in England’s North East Maxwell Rabb Feb 7, 2024 5:25PM Portrait of Miles Thurlow and Paul Moss in Gateshead, U...
Two Chinese artists show contrast in styles in side-by-side solo exhibitions of paintings at Hong Kong’s Blindspot Gallery | South China Morning Post Advertisement Advertisement Art + FOLLOW Get more with my NEWS A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you Learn more Detail from “Bay of the Deer” (2023) by Zhang Wenzhi, part of the Beijing-based artist’s solo exhibition “Tiger in Mountains, Deer at Ocean” at Blindspot Gallery...
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Auction of the Week: A 1966 Painting Created by The Beatles Sells for $1.7 Million - Galerie Subscribe Art + Culture Interiors Style + Design Emerging Artists Discoveries Artist Guide More Creative Minds Life Imitates Art Real estate Events Video Galerie House of Art and Design Subscribe About Press Advertising Contact Us Follow Galerie Sign up to receive our newsletter Subscribe The Beatles, Images of a Woman, 1966...
Art of War 1, City in Broad Daylight, Leaving the House, Justice is a Virtue, and Lions are Stronger than Men are linocut prints from the series Sultana’s Dream ...
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