Becky Kolsrud

Elegies


January 30 - March 13, 2021

Carla
Observer
The New Yorker
TheGuide.art
Art Observed

An installation view of Elegies at JTT. Displayed in this image are five paintings by Becky Kolsrud.
installation view, Elegies, JTT, New York

“The Pool”
By H.D.

Are you alive?
I touch you.
You quiver like a sea-fish.
I cover you with my net.
What are you—banded one?

JTT is proud to announce Elegies, the gallery’s fourth solo show with LA based painter Becky Kolsrud. On view are twelve paintings that feature flattened female figures and opaque landscapes with glowing horizons. One piece titled Three Graces includes an installation of sixty Hydrocal plaster feet scattered on the floor beneath a painting of the three Charites in a dark blue abyss. These newest works look to the abstraction of Georgia O’Keeffe, the interiority of Félix Vallotton, the austere poetry of H.D., and the collective isolation and reflection on mortality brought by the global pandemic.

In Dryad (Cypress), 2020, a cypress tree stands with two bare human legs. A straight horizon cuts across the center of the composition parting a pale pink sky from a verdant green landscape. Evenly shaped and distanced clouds are mirrored by dark green circles along the ground. This work calls to mind Georgia O’Keeffe’s Sky Above Clouds series from the 1960s, where O’Keeffe depicts a spread of clouds against a pale pink light with a deliberate and measured simplicity. O’Keeffe began this series after her husband Alfred Stieglitz passed away and she decided to travel by air for the first time. The solitary reflection of peering through an airplane window magnified by grief is contained within O’Keeffe's soft white ovals. In Dryad (Cypress), 2020, Kolsrud’s plucks O’Keeffe’s clouds and with it her grief and solitude.

Inscape (Dryad), 2021, features another tree, this one round with soft curling leaves standing with pale blue legs on a dark brooding green that contrasts the light yellows of the foliage above. Behind the figure is a thin lake and a purple mountain painted with bold hard edges where the water, earth and pink vibrant sky meet. As the title implies this is not a portrait of a figure in nature, but instead a deep interiority where the blue of the water and the shadow of the grass tells us more about solitude and melancholy than posture or expression. Here Kolsrud looks to the Swiss painter Félix Vallotton, who in the late 19th century was a part of a group of artists who brought the transition from impression to abstraction and symbolism known as Les Nabis. Inscape (Dryad), 2021, like Vallotton’s seascapes, emphasizes the profoundness of emotion through color. Indeed there is almost an ethos in Elegies that profundity comes through reflecting on a most economical recounting of a foot, a skull, a tree, the water, the sky.

In the largest painting in Elegies, titled The Chorus, 2021, a seascape is spotted with large smooth rocks. On each of them perch the same cypress creature that is found in Dryad (Cypress), 2020, and Inscape (Dryad), 2021. For the most part every cypress figure has their own small stone island but with a few exceptions two and three figures cluster together. In The Chorus, 2021, the solitude is now collective. The figures are separated by a rolling sea, but are still in communion with one another. In the center of the composition is a boat with a figure laying inside like an open casket. The water is not rendered in details of waves or ripples but instead in concentric circles of light and dark blues that have a uniformity across the composition. Above is a pale pink and purple sky with a yellow glowing horizon that mourns the figure in the boat not unlike O’Keeffe’s clouds that mourn Stieglitz.

In classical antiquity the cypress was a symbol of mourning as it failed to regenerate when pruned too severely. Within Greek mythology, the story of Cyparissus explains the Greek and Roman tradition of fumigating funerals with burning cypress branches or planting cypress trees beside gravesites. In Ovid’s version of the myth, a boy by the name of Cyparissus accidentally killed his own beloved stag while hunting. Cyparissus is so grief-stricken that he asks Apollo to let his tears fall forever. Apollo, who loved Cyparissus deeply, agrees to grant his wish as an act of devotion and turns the young boy into a tree whose sap forms droplets that cascade down its trunk. The myth is imbued with mourning, Cyparissus is bereft of his stag, but Apollo must also grieve the loss of Cyparissus. All of the work in Elegies was made in the accustomed solitude of the artist’s studio. However, this past year has brought new meaning to solitude and collective solitude, as well as new experiences of grief and collective mourning.

Becky Kolsrud (b. 1984, Los Angeles, CA) opened dual solo exhibitions of all new paintings in 2020 at Tif Sigfrids in Athens, GA, and Make Room in Los Angeles, CA, the latter of which included examples of her latest engagement with sculpture. In 2019 JTT presented a solo booth of her work at Art Basel Hong Kong, and later that year her work was featured in an exhibition at the Atlanta Contemporary, GA. Kolsrud has had numerous solo exhibitions including four at JTT, and others at Tif Sigfrids in Athens, Phil Gallery in LA, and Karma in New York. Her work has been exhibited at CFHill, Stockholm, Jessica Silverman Gallery, Los Angeles, Capital, San Francisco, Foxy Production, NY, and Maccarone, NY. She holds an MFA in painting from UCLA.

An installation view of Elegies at JTT. Displayed in this image are two paintings by Becky Kolsrud. One the left, Inscape (Clouds) and on the right, The Chorus
installation view, Elegies, JTT, New York
Pictured is The Chorus by Becky Kolsrud. This painting shows a sprawling body of water populated with rocks. Perched on the rocks are tree figures inspired by Dryads, which are forest nymphs found throughout Greek mythology.
The Chorus, 2021
oil on canvas
84 x 180 in
213.5 x 457 cm
Pictured is a detail of The Chorus by Becky Kolsrud. Depicted is a seated Dryad, which is a forest nymph found in Greek mythology. The Dryads are interpreted here as a tree with human legs.
The Chorus, 2021 (detail)
oil on canvas
84 x 180 in
213.5 x 457 cm
Pictured is a detail of The Chorus by Becky Kolsrud. This photo shows the central image of the painting: a motionless human figure laying in a small boat.
The Chorus, 2021 (detail)
oil on canvas
84 x 180 in
213.5 x 457 cm
An installation view of Elegies at JTT. Displayed in this image are four paintings by Becky Kolsrud
installation view, Elegies, JTT, New York
Shown is the painting Inscape (Clouds) by Becky Kolsrud. The painting has a bright pink border with clouds also encircling a landscape populated by a large blue sky, a yellow sun, and a single tree.
Inscape (Clouds), 2021
oil on canvas
76 x 90 in
193 x 228.5 cm
Shown is a detail of the painting Inscape (Clouds) by Becky Kolsrud. This detail image highlights the tree in the painting
Inscape (Clouds), 2021 (detail)
oil on canvas
76 x 90 in
193 x 228.5 cm
Shown is a detail of the painting Inscape (Clouds) by Becky Kolsrud. This detail image highlights the sun, as well as the pink border and clouds
Inscape (Clouds), 2021 (detail)
oil on canvas
76 x 90 in
193 x 228.5 cm
An installation view of Elegies at JTT. Displayed in this image are three paintings by Becky Kolsrud
installation view, Elegies, JTT, New York
Displayed is an image of the painting Inscape (Blue) by Becky Kolsrud. The painting is a vertical canvas with two bands or black paint at the top and bottom of the canvas. The top band includes six pink skulls and the bottom band includes nine heeled feet in various colors. The middle of the painting is blue
Inscape (Blue), 2021
oil on canvas
84 x 60 in
213.5 x 152.5 cm
Displayed is a detail image of the painting Inscape (Blue) by Becky Kolsrud. The detail shows several of the feet at the bottom of the painting.
Inscape (Blue), 2021 (detail)
oil on canvas
84 x 60 in
213.5 x 152.5 cm
Displayed is the painting Inscape (Dryad) by Becky Kolsrud. The painting features a pink sky, rolling blue hills, and a blue body of water. A tree-human figure is shown, a combination of a tree top and blue human legs.
Inscape (Dryad), 2021
oil on canvas
84 x 60 in
213.5 x 152.5 cm
Displayed is a detail image of the painting Inscape (Dryad) by Becky Kolsrud. The images shows more detail of the figure in the painting
Inscape (Dryad), 2021 (detail)
oil on canvas
84 x 60 in
213.5 x 152.5 cm
Displayed is the painting Inscape (Skull & Moon) by Becky Kolsrud. The painting shows a night sky, a yellow full moon, and a green hill. On the green hill sits a pink human skull. The entire painting is encircled by a border of blue paint and clouds
Inscape (Skull & Moon), 2021
oil on canvas
84 x 60 in
213.5 x 152.5 cm
Displayed is the painting Inscape (Skull & Moon) by Becky Kolsrud. This image shows closer detail of the pink human skull, as well as the border of the painting
Inscape (Skull & Moon), 2021 (detail)
oil on canvas
84 x 60 in
213.5 x 152.5 cm
An installation view of Elegies at JTT. Displayed in this image are six paintings by Becky Kolsrud.
installation view, Elegies, JTT, New York
An installation view of Elegies at JTT. Displayed in this image are three paintings by Becky Kolsrud.
installation view, Elegies, JTT, New York
Displayed is the painting Dryad (Cypress) by Becky Kolsrud. The painting shows a landscape with a pink sky, blue circular clouds, green ground, and a blue body of water. A Dryad stand centrally on a green speck on land in the water.
Dryad (Cypress), 2020
oil on canvas
40 x 32 in
101.5 x 81.5 cm
Displayed is a detail of the painting Dryad (Cypress) by Becky Kolsrud. The detail shows more of the pink sky, clouds, as well as the Dryad
Dryad (Cypress), 2020 (detail)
oil on canvas
40 x 32 in
101.5 x 81.5 cm
Displayed is an image of the painting Face/Figure Conflation by Becky Kolsrud. The painting is blue, with two faceless female figures painted in beige. The features of a woman floats above them in the foreground
Face/Figure Conflation, 2021
oil on canvas
40 x 32 in
101.5 x 81.5 cm
Displayed is a detail image of the painting Face/Figure Conflation by Becky Kolsrud. The image shows more detail of one of the faceless women
Face/Figure Conflation, 2021 (detail)
oil on canvas
40 x 32 in
101.5 x 81.5 cm
Displayed is the painting Inscape (Three Graces) by Becky Kolsrud. This painting shows three female figures painted in soft pink, their heads yellow with a single human eye instead of a face. They stand in a body of water painted in checkered blue. The painting is bordered in pink and clouds
Inscape (Three Graces), 2021
oil on canvas
56 x 44 in
142 x 112 cm
Displayed is a detail of the painting Inscape (Three Graces) by Becky Kolsrud. The image shows more detail of the three figures
Inscape (Three Graces), 2021 (detail)
oil on canvas
56 x 44 in
142 x 112 cm
An installation view of Elegies at JTT. Displayed in this image are two paintings by Becky Kolsrud
installation view, Elegies, JTT, New York
Displayed is the painting and installation Three Graces by Becky Kolsrud. In the background is a painting of three female figures and on the gallery floor stands roughly 60 human feet in clear heeled shoes
Three Graces, 2021
oil on canvas, Hydrocal, paint, plastic
painting: 76 x 90 in (193 x 228.5 cm)
shoes: 8 x 9 x 5 in each (20.5 x 23 x 12.5 cm each)
Displayed is an image of the painting from Three Graces by Becky Kolsrud. The painting shows three headless, armless female figures. The figures are painted in soft pink and the background is dark purple. The painting is bordered by thin blue clouds on a dark blue background
Three Graces, 2021 (detail)
oil on canvas, Hydrocal, paint, plastic
painting: 76 x 90 in (193 x 228.5 cm)
shoes: 8 x 9 x 5 in each (20.5 x 23 x 12.5 cm each)
Displayed is a detail image of the painting from Three Graces by Becky Kolsrud. The image shows more detail of the female figures
Three Graces, 2021 (detail)
oil on canvas, Hydrocal, paint, plastic
painting: 76 x 90 in (193 x 228.5 cm)
shoes: 8 x 9 x 5 in each (20.5 x 23 x 12.5 cm each)
Displayed is detail image of the installation from Three Graces by Becky Kolsrud. The image shows several of the heeled feet on the floor of the gallery.
Three Graces, 2021 (detail)
oil on canvas, Hydrocal, paint, plastic
painting: 76 x 90 in (193 x 228.5 cm)
shoes: 8 x 9 x 5 in each (20.5 x 23 x 12.5 cm each)
Displayed is detail image of the installation from Three Graces by Becky Kolsrud. The image shows several of the heeled feet on the floor of the gallery.
Three Graces, 2021 (detail)
oil on canvas, Hydrocal, paint, plastic
painting: 76 x 90 in (193 x 228.5 cm)
shoes: 8 x 9 x 5 in each (20.5 x 23 x 12.5 cm each)
Displayed is detail image of the installation from Three Graces by Becky Kolsrud. The image shows several of the heeled feet on the floor of the gallery.
Three Graces, 2021 (detail)
oil on canvas, Hydrocal, paint, plastic
painting: 76 x 90 in (193 x 228.5 cm)
shoes: 8 x 9 x 5 in each (20.5 x 23 x 12.5 cm each)
An installation view of Elegies at JTT. Displayed in this image are two paintings by Becky Kolsrud
installation view, Elegies, JTT, New York
Displayed is an image of the painting Inscape (Face/Figures) by Becky Kolsrud. The painting shows a sky fading to night with a dark blue body of water. Three female figures, faceless and painted in bright blue, stand in the center of the canvas. The large features of a woman wearing red lipstick float in the foreground.
Inscape (Face/Figures), 2021
oil on canvas
56 x 44 in
142 x 112 cm
Displayed is a detail image of the painting Inscape (Face/Figures) by Becky Kolsrud. The detail shows more of the blue figures and the features of a woman
Inscape (Face/Figures), 2021 (detail)
oil on canvas
56 x 44 in
142 x 112 cm
An installation view of Elegies at JTT. Displayed in this image are three paintings by Becky Kolsrud
installation view, Elegies, JTT, New York
Displayed is the painting Inscape (Relic) by Becky Kolsrud. The painting shows a human foot in a clear heeled boot. The foot stands on green grass under a blue sky
Inscape (Relic), 2021
oil on canvas
56 x 44 in
142 x 112 cm