Subliminal Sublime: Samantha McCurdy
February 19 - April 02,2022
From Galleri Urbane: "Los Angeles artist Samantha McCurdy returns for her third solo exhibition with the gallery. Subliminal Sublime highlights the artist’s use of spandex to explore the sculptural potential within the traditionally flat discipline of painting. Through stand-alone and multi-component works, McCurdy implements bold color and form to pay homage to the human figure and spark intrigue on what lies beneath the surface. In a practice that predates the artist’s first solo show with the gallery in 2018, McCurdy makes use of stretchable spandex fabric to cover custom-built supports. The intricately constructed frames bulge outward to create a range of concave and convex forms. McCurdy cites the influence of fashion on her practice, admiring its ability to highlight and transform the human figure through exposing and concealing. The forms McCurdy creates both subtly and directly reference bodies as the stretched spandex plays the role of both skin and form-fitting clothing. Furthermore, she looks to fashion houses’ use of color across their collections, noting the way hues for a given time period expand past the runway to art, design, and beyond. McCurdy similarly establishes dedicated color palettes for each body of work she makes, serving as visual time capsules for the artist. In this body of work, McCurdy has honed in on the physical construction of her paintings, allowing her to explore increasingly complex geometries. In Zipper (2022), the artist’s signature bulge form is repeated along two side-by-side panels. Each protrusion reaches toward the negative space formed by its neighbor, building tension through repetition. In another work, Wave (2022), McCurdy introduces a new fin-shaped projection that compositionally cascades down the length of multiple panels. Painted in a soft gradient, the work showcases a refined sophistication for the artist in both construction and color application. McCurdy views her practice as an extensive investigation of form. Basic geometries are repeatedly utilized, varied only slightly to explore their full potential. Subtle shifts in color and scale are preferred to lofty experiments, allowing the artist to build a deep familiarity with materials and process. Thus, those who have followed the artist’s career will find a familiarity in this body of work while also being offered a glimpse into her ever-evolving craft."
On View: February 19, 2022 | 12-5 pm
Galleri Urbane Dallas
2277 Monitor St.
Dallas, TX 75206
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