October 11 - November 2, 2024
From Clamp Light Studios:
“She Holds the Sky is a colorful and dreamy exhibition exploring themes of aging, motherhood, and beauty. Gnehm’s collage-inspired oil and acrylic paintings draw inspiration from a synthesis of art history, self-portraits, and celestial symbolism. Through this series of paintings, she examines the forces that shape life and the body, including birth, death, growth, and decay, by juxtaposing symbols of hands, eyes, and lips with celestial imagery like moons and suns. These elements, woven together, explore the delicate balance between strength and fragility, age and beauty, and the rhythm of life.
Gnehm’s approach is rooted in both classical and experimental painting techniques. She uses thin layers of oil paint over abstract acrylic underpaintings, allowing her figures to emerge from the chaos of swirling colors. The depiction of larger-than-life hands in her work is powerful, carrying weight and flexing under pressure, representing the burden and grace of motherhood and the passage of time. This method contrasts with the softer, more delicate depictions often found in historical portrayals of women.
By blending the boldness of her dripping, fluid painting style with the precision of classical oil techniques, Gnehm creates a dynamic tension between control and disorder, mirroring the dualities found in life itself. Her works invite the viewer to explore their own experiences with femininity, aging, and identity, offering an intimate yet expansive reflection on the cycles and transformations that define us all.”
Reception: October 11, 2024 | 6–9 pm
1704 Blanco Rd, Suite 104
San Antonio, 78212 TX
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