Thierry Goldberg Gallery is pleased to present Closer, an online exhibition of paintings by Sophia Huitema. The exhibition will be on view from October 15 to November 9, 2024.
Sophia Huitema’s paintings, with their cinematic quality and realistic precision, confront the viewer with an unnerving combination of vulnerability and defiance. Her works recall the introspective mood and painting style of Baroque paintings, where light defines the figure’s sculptural presence; or the Pre-Raphaelite sentiment, that captures an emotional depth and hints at an inner narrative. The contemporary interiors depicted in the works bring these art historical references into present-day reflections on identity, femininity, and physicality.
In her self-portrait Untitled (2023), the viewer peers into a moment not meant to be witnessed. A nude woman in the bathtub is caught in a private, vulnerable state—her body turned inward, unaware of the viewer’s gaze. Huitema's precise realism enhances the voyeuristic tension, allowing the viewer to become both observer and an intruder. While the scene depicted in this painting positions the subject in a vulnerable space, her inward focus on herself denies the viewer ownership.
In Savannah (2023), an emotive blow-up of the eyes of Huitema’s twin sister, creates a moment of unsettling closeness. The eyes, rendered with meticulous detail, seem to stare out from the canvas with a penetrating intensity. The irises, a rich, deep brown, are surrounded by a thin, almost translucent white. The eyelashes, long and dark, frame the eyes, adding to their dramatic effect. The painting invites contemplation, while exploring the boundary between observation and autonomy.
The painting titled Karenina (2024), is a striking study in sensuality and restraint. A close-up focus on the hands and upper torso of a woman, where a palpable tension resides in the gesture of self-embrace. The texture of the skin, the delicate lace of the undergarment, and the meticulously rendered details create a layered narrative of intimacy and protection.
The tension between self-protection and vulnerability reflects Huitema’s nuanced exploration of the human condition, where what is shown is just as important as what is withheld. The works challenge the viewer to confront their own perceptions of beauty and objectification. By placing women in positions of power or vulnerability that defy traditional narratives, Huitema reclaims agency, inviting discussions about the multifaceted nature of female identity.
Sophia Huitema (b. 1998, Kalamazoo, Michigan) lives and works in New York, NY. She received a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in 2020. Her work will be included in a group exhibition at Harper’s Gallery, New York, NY later this year. Closer is her first exhibition with Thierry Goldberg Gallery.