Levels of Abstraction: Kaline Carter & Nathan Aufrichtig

- Levels of Abstraction -

On Friday, April 7th 2023, Canyon Road Contemporary Art, 622 Canyon Road, will present the powerful, exquisitely painted abstract paintings of Kaline Carter & Nathan Aufrichtig. The show will run through April 16th 2023.

This exhibition details the sense of abstraction of reality, both its simple and complex levels. Abstract art uses visual language of shape, form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Abstract art is art that does not attempt to represent an accurate depiction of a visual reality but instead use shapes, colors, forms and gestural marks to achieve its effect. Following are the artists perspective of their personal interpretation of their abstracted art. 

Kaline Carter: "While I enjoy creating the hard, clean lines in my architectural paintings, I have been craving a series that is a bit more abstract. Of course, I could not argue this latest series to be purely abstract as it is inspired and derived from fashion. Although my process remains largely the same and utilizes hard edges, matte vinyl paints paired with acrylics, and big shapes & fields of color, I have challenged myself to add more layers to my process. In this new series, you will see more metallic & iridescent paints and sometimes more intricate pattern- all ways of playing with light. I have also challenged myself to add more curves and organic shapes into my work."

Nathan Aufrichtig: "When I close my eyes, the black void swells with color and then spontaneously erupts into dazzling abstract scenes which I then reproduce in my paintings. When I think about my next painting, at first the scenes are chaotic and unstable, but after a while, certain colors become more saturated than others, and various shapes take on specific positions. Eventually, an almost static scene materializes in my mind and I can contemplate and revise specific areas without altering the whole. What I’m essentially doing is allowing myself to settle into my subconscious and view its pre-existing forms. It’s like jumping off a high perch into a deep pool of water. At the deepest point you open your eyes only to be blinded by a plume of bubbles. As the water settles, the bubbly vail rises into the ether and sunlight streams through the still blue water giving way to clear and distinct forms. In this sense, painting is more about discovery than creation. Everything that can be depicted already exists in some form, it's just a matter of making sense of what’s already present. When I paint, I apply layer upon layer of colors and textures that coalesce into ripples of organic energy. The obscure nature of my images is such that each viewer will likely extract their own meaning and sentiments from my paintings. My highest hope as an artist is that my paintings will be a source of creative inspiration and positive emotion for the viewer."