Open September 22 – October 23

Art Gym is excited to present Reactive Self-Portraits, a solo exhibition of new work from member Emma Krantz on view in The Leyden Jar. Please join us and the artist for a reception on Thursday September 22 from 6-9PM.

“This past year I decided to begin focusing on portrait painting, and connecting them with abstract landscapes that I’ve been compelled to create in the past. Throughout this, I somewhat unconsciously found myself making a series out of individuals that I didn’t know a single thing about, from an artist photo reference group online. When scrolling through images in search of my next subject I would choose the photos that made me pause: they were expressions that seemed to show clearly some of the deeper and heavier feelings that come inevitably with being alive.

My interpretations of these expressions are what I’ve come to call reactive self-portraits. It brings to my mind empathy, and its role in the landscape of human connectedness. I resonate enough with each of these people to take these images and omit, add, or crop as I intuit fitting for making that expression my own. The landscapes that I’ve been painting in conjunction with the figures are a focus on the opposite: instead of casting a connection to others, they draw attention to the connection that we have with self. These are scenes meant to be slightly abstracted, non detailed, and very meditative. My goal is for you to contemplate them, letting your mind wander, as you might sit and enjoy any landscape in a moment to yourself.”