Angela Kirkner I make art because I am compelled to do so. If a viewer finds something that moves them, then I have succeeded in using my visual dialog to expose that viewer to in the way in which I, as an artist, see.
My life is immersed in the arts. For the past 20 years, I worked in the non-profit arts field supporting the work of artists and arts organizations. I work primarily in the abstract. I find reference and inspiration in both nature and the urban landscape. My paintings are built with layers of gestural brush strokes, the juxtaposition of colors with negative space, and deliberate surface tension. I also consider myself a colorist. Flashes of color glimpsed in everyday life frequently inform my work which I translate to the painting surface. My abstract paintings are a blend of colors, textures and tool markings which, when successful, come together in harmonious composition.
My collage and mixed media pieces are more intimate. Those works have references in my personal history; they also feature imagery related to people whose lives have meaningfully intersected with mine. In creating my mixed media works I connect private, cherished imagery with pop culture references while striving for visual balance.
Personal art is voyeuristic and leaves the artist vulnerable. It is much more difficult to display that body of work. However I believe that when artists share their intimate work they are engaging in the most meaningful type of dialogue with the viewer