Wave Amnesia by Kate McQuillen
On view at Massey Klein Gallery until Saturday, June 19th.

On Friday, May 7th, visual artist Kate McQuillen’s first New York City solo show opened at Massey Klein Gallery. The exhibition, titled Wave Amnesia, was officially launched with a reception on Sunday, May 9th.

McQuillen’s work is sometimes described as “hyper-flat” for its indiscernible texture and brushstrokes. She creates transparent color gradients by applying thin layers of acrylic paint through silkscreen, producing an imagery that sometimes recall the light displays of auroras borealis. The paintings’ impenetrable matte surfaces allow viewers to experience them without external distractions.

The works in Wave Amnesia depict the human mind’s imperfection. McQuillen was inspired by confusing mental experiences such as the combination of emptiness and abstract imagery that occurs in the brain when a word is forgotten or is about to be recalled. These moments can cause the mind to be caught in limbo between knowledge and oblivion. McQuillen’s work seeks abstract imagery that communicates this same experience of that which is familiar but still unknown. The show is counterbalanced by two distinct styles. The first is marked by repetitive and linear layers of paint that hide the artist’s hand almost entirely. The second contrasts with the first by exposing the unevenness of the creative process. Wave Amnesia was influenced by artists such as Jacqueline Humphries, Charline von Heyl, and Joan Mitchell.

McQuillen’s work has been exhibited nationally and abroad. She has been featured in international art fairs in Toronto (Canada) and Chicago. The artist lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

Massey Klein Gallery is located at 124 Forsyth St. New York, NY 10002.
For press inquiries or questions about works available, please contact ryan@masseyklein.com.

Borderlands, acrylic on panel, 51″ x 48,” 2021