Alicia Rothman

June Rider (black white, horse, animal painting, patterns)

2024

Oil and ink on panel

oil on masonite panel

This new series of painting is an exciting transition for Kinney as he is best known for assemblage and sculpture. “Anim”, the Latin root word of animal, means life, soul or breath. This exhibition features select large-format monochromatic oil paintings on stretched canvas and wood panels. On view as well are works on paper with Japanese Sumi Ink, which inspired the oil paintings. Kinney has been looking at pre-historic cave paintings as well as animals depicted therein, such as the Chauvet caves in Nice, Southern France. Emerging from the inextricable interplay of light and dark, Kinney’s black and white ink paintings capture the ever-shifting subjectivity shaped by shadow. Cast in Japanese Sumi ink, each unique painting explores the trajectories of human and animal, natural and architectural form- what is revealed or hidden? A variety of hand-torn, heavy weight papers add textural dimension to each mark and brush stroke, as well as through the immediacy of brushstrokes to depict the action within the artwork In his latest collection of works, Kinney explores animal form and meaning as seen in both contemporary and ancient times. In “Savanna (Zebras) ”, a stampede of zebras is depicted through oil paint on wood panel. Animal populations in regions like the horn of Africa today face the loss of their natural habitats due to extreme draught. He explores the deep imprint they leave behind and the interconnectedness of humans and animals in the world. With the balance of nature at stake, Kinney’s paintings underscore the importance of the relationship between the natural environment and civilization. Matt Kinney...

This abstract equine painting, "In White III" by artist Gabrielle Benot is a 24x18 original mixed media painting on canvas of a horse portrait in white, golden beige, and light pastel colors. The artists use of mixed media mediums and thick, textured applications bring a sculptural and three-dimensional quality to each piece. About the artist: Born in Latvia, Ms. Gabrielle Benot had a natural gift for artistic creativity. From a young age she had a keen interest in sketching, drawing, and sculpting. She matured as an artist over time, often under the guidance of her grandfather, who was a self-taught painter. Eventually she would study fashion design at the Royal Fashion Academy (Margrethe Skolen) in Copenhagen. Several of her teachers include Andrea Rushing, known for his Steampunk aesthetic, and Jeffrey Watts. Aside from her teachers, Gabrielle has also been influenced and inspired by Jackson Pollock, Gerhard Richter, Pino Daeni, Nikolai Fechin, Gustav Klimt, Joan Mitchell, Joan Brown , Jean Paul Riopelle to name a few. Her style reflects an interest in partial figurative representation and a reduction of subject matter into minimalistic elements. Additionally, many of Ms. Benot’s paintings materialize from, and are inspired by a variety of sources; some of these include literature, magazines, and alluring private snapshots based on luxury fashion branding and the equestrian lifestyle. She has used many of these sources to develop a technique of her own that include the use of wet brushes, dry brushes, palette knives, oil pastels, charcoal and whatever else can come to mind as a medium, tool or a collage detail. Concentrating on form, color, and a sense of stylistic freedom, Gabrielle uses light and shadow in her images to approach a semi-abstract impressionistic graphic design that has been described as “unsettling,” “accusatory,” “exotic,” and “tastefully erotic.” Gabrielle uses her technique to experiment with abstract forms and non figurative art...