Thierry Goldberg Gallery is pleased to present Into the Crypts of Rays, an online exhibition of works by Ketta Ioannidou. The exhibition will be on view from July 19th to August 19th, 2023.
Into the Crypts of Rays invites us to embark on a captivating exploration of both the bodily and psychological realms, while transcending form and color through the expressive language of fluid abstraction. In each painting, Ketta Ioannidou creates a blended, dream-like portal, guiding viewers on a deeply personal and sensorial journey.
Ioannidou’s technique of using wet on wet oil paint creates brushstrokes that draw on the legacy of impressionism. Yet, through her compositions, she rejuvenates this model by introducing the complexity of abstraction. Her mirage- like constructions in combination with her cool color palette evoke sensations of emotional and somatic ambiguity.
This reformulation of the natural world is derived from Ioannidou’s pre-painting process, in which she takes photos and digitally distorts them to create dramatized compositions. In "The Last Living Rose (2023)" she manipulates the familiar symbol of the flower into a curious and phantasmagoric patterned painting. The flowing movements and blending brush strokes create a smooth confluence of reality and imagination.
Ioannidou invites us into a realm of ethereal fluidity and introspection. Her playful painting process results in work that resonates with wonder and emotional depth. Through the interplay of abstract forms, vibrant colors, and layered compositions, she captivates viewers within transcendent landscapes. As we immerse ourselves in her mesmerizing visual journey, we are reminded of the boundless possibilities that lie within the realm of abstraction, and the transformative power of painting to connect with our innermost selves.
Ketta Ioannidou (b. 1974, Nicosia, Cyprus) lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. Ioannidou holds an MFA from School of Visual Arts, New York, NY, and a BA (Honors) from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London, UK. Ioannidou represented Cyprus in the Cairo and Alexandria Biennales in Egypt and the 18th Asian Biennale in Bangladesh. She has had solo exhibitions at Chashama, Brooklyn, NY; The Yard, Brooklyn, NY; South Oxford Space, Brooklyn, New York; and the Diatopos Centre of Contemporary Art, Nicosia, Cyprus. Ioannidou has participated in recent group exhibitions at Pierogi Gallery, Brooklyn, New York; and SPRING/BREAK Art Show, Los Angeles, California, and Thierry Goldberg Gallery, among others.
For more information, please call or email the gallery at +1.212.228.7569 or info@thierrygoldberg.com