PAST EXHIBITION

Barbara Kassel: Paintings

May 28, 2009—July 11, 2009

Hirschl & Adler Modern is pleased to announce the opening of Barbara Kassel: Paintings on Thursday, May 28, 2009.  The artist’s first solo exhibition with the gallery will feature over 15 new oil paintings ranging in size from 5 x 7 inches to 46 x 80 inches.

Barbara Kassel often describes her paintings as “celebrations” of her own life at the present moment.  In them, she embraces her surroundings, her space, her neighborhood, the comfort found in domestic happiness, and new possibilities.  In autobiographical interiors, intensely personal and symbolic objects are juxtaposed against the expanding views outside the windows of the spaces where she works  - the Tribeca loft where she lives with her husband, and their retreats in Martha’s Vinyard and Maine.   

In The Start, painted at the time of Kassel’s marriage, the theme of couples abounds.  Set against the backdrop of the facades and water towers outside their windows, a table displays the gift of a necklace from her husband, surrounded by the couple’s favorite mugs, two slices of celebration cake, and two vases brimming with fresh flowers. On the wall is a canvas, perhaps a painting still in progress.  The bright and joyous spread announces new beginnings.

In Valentine, a pair of goldfish swim happily, their bowl situated in a calm, zen-like interior against a backdrop of snow gently falling outside. A crystal prism refracts the winter light, while a snow globe and a dream catcher – a symbol of well-being and peace of mind– sit on the window sill, suggesting contemplation.

The artist’s particular working method reflects her personal philosophy of growth and change. Beginning with gessoed panels mounted directly on the wall, Kassel expands or isolates her compositions by adding or subtracting panels as she paints. Inspired by 15th century Italian Quattrocento paintings, Kassel’s paintings consist of flat spaces juxtaposed with highly detailed passages, leading the viewer to methodically explore every inch of the scene. A restrained palette dominated by soft grays provides a sense of calm and order, punctuated by bursts of color.  Kassel’s unique technique, combined with her deeply personal narratives, result in paintings that invite the viewer to contemplate one’s own surroundings, environments, and relationships.

Barbara Kassel received her MFA from Yale University and BFA from the Slade School of Fine Art, London. Her work was featured in the 1984 Biennale in Venice, as well as in many solo and group exhibitions at institutions such as the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Iowa and the Riverside Museum of Art, California. Her work can also be found in numerous public and private collections, including those of Bank of America, IBM, Exxon Corporation, and the Skirball Museum, Los Angeles, CA.

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