Viewing Emily Bartolone's latest collection for Charlotte Russell Contemporary is genuinely a sensory optical experience. One look is not enough. I find my eyes swirling around the surface, captivated by how she uses analogous colors and contrasting textures.
Bartolone tricks viewers into seeing colors as other than themselves, adding a layer of humor to the production of works. Pairing down simple anthropomorphized shapes adds playful, human qualities to the composition. Bartolone's paintings offer a break from the daily bombardment of distractions, notifications, and news.
Her work plays with formal elements of painting. She pushes the boundaries of minimalism and geometric abstraction. What sets Bartolone's work apart is the way she manipulates the surface. Starting with a gessoed panel, clay board, or paper, she then builds up the base hue in layers using a large brush in a sweeping motion. Her strokes allow a subtle build-up of texture. She uses a small brush to create the shape's silhouette in more minor strokes, creating surface tension.
Not only is Bartolone's work an exploration of color and shape, but it is an exploration of the complexity of human relationships. Bartolone creates a space for the viewer to contemplate their feelings. Moments of awkward tension on the picture plane mimic awkward moments in everyday life.
When viewing this collection, I hope you find an escape and a space for rest.
