Known for her large-scale paintings, which often incorporate collage and sculpture, Gilbert has taken her figures into an entirely three-dimensional realm. The plaster and mixed media sculptures in the show depict women, children and animals, each representing a sort of three-dimensional hieroglyph. They embody a curious handling of materials that is both visceral and childlike. The playful nature of the work, the gestures of bent arms and flattened legs, are enhanced by the fact that many of the sculptures hang from the ceiling, slowly spinning and swaying about the viewers head.
Bjork's new work features heavily textured encaustic paintings, which peer into our memory of landscape. Modest in size, the square paintings often couple or triple into arrangements that relate to each other through composition, texture and color. Bjork's handling of the paint consists of layers of drips, smears and smudges, usually atop a richly colored background, often that of an intensified natural origin, with deep blues, greens and magentas paired with a stark white. The accumulation of color and texture give a sense of low-relief to the work. Ironically though, what is manifested as object is the fleeting strain of weather. Her handling of the materials allows the color to surface and dissipate throughout the work, creating an atmospheric quality.
New York