Barbara Takenaga, Blue (A), acrylic on linen, 60 x 70 inches
Barbara Takenaga: Manifold
May 16 - July 6, 2019
Robischon Gallery
Denver, CO
In her first solo exhibition, Robischon Gallery is pleased to present New York artist Barbara Takenaga’s “Manifold,” an expansive offering of small and large-scale paintings on linen and panel. With her exquisitely lavish painted details, the artist’s overall palette of deep blacks and a rich range of blues serve as the foundation for her multi-layered, dynamic animated mark. Clusters of concentric circles, tiny pearlescent geysers, or luminous structures of nets and fish-scale forms, each unfold and redirect the eye to prompt a sense of wonder. Artist and artcritical writer, Mary Jones observes, “Takenaga plays through octaves of weight. Tiny brushstrokes, hairlines, and rendered dots of white are made with the lightest touch, skittering across a heavy lava flow of poured and puddled acrylic. She knows her chemistry. Untold hours of attention, focus and devotion to her craft are haptically present, the paintings suggest strenuous concentration and, like meditation, allow the viewer to escape the pressures of time and distraction. Takenaga has practiced and honed these qualities through decades, and now, she thoroughly owns them.”
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Barbara Takenaga, Cloud Faces, acrylic on canvas over wood panel, 8 x 10 inches