New York University Kimmel Galleries presents DITTO: works in blue which features seventeen mixed media paintings by New York based artist Shira Toren, and curated by Pamela Jean Tinnen. The exhibition opened October 23, 2013, at New York University’s Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life, 528 Thompson Street, 4th Floor, and runs through January 3, 2014.
“The title DITTO intentionally evokes the feeling of repetition; all works engage an analogous use of color, texture and composition,” said Tinnen. “While the cohesive nature of this exhibition is unmistakable, each work holds captive the viewer independently of one another. It’s impossible not to get lost as one discovers the individual yet nuanced complexity in each work.”
Throughout the exhibition Toren explores the possibilities of her intricate medium, which uses a combination of oil and acrylic paint, Venetian plaster, pigment, graphite and hematite ink. Her desire to work in blue comes as a natural transition from her previous focus of painting in black and white. Between Light and Matter demonstrates visual evidence of this crossing over to works in blue; blue being the color that references both the sea and sky. A hue that is reflective, complicated and emotive. These paintings create an ethereal narrative, placing the viewer somewhere between the earth and the sky. Toren covers the spectrum of blue, from indigo to violet, teal to denim. Her compositions are intuitive, dreamlike, and strikingly beautiful.
Torn employs an effective and unique use of ink and pigment on oil, which conveys an elegant, almost linguistic quality. Take for example Conversation in Blue, in particular the contrast from off-white oil background to navy ink. These patterns and shapes appear both accidental and intentional; representational and abstracted. The effect is hypnotizing.
Toren accomplishes something close to visual magic over and over again in DITTO: works in blue; in marrying color field painting with descriptive, figurative ink formations, she has established a body of work that is both significant and captivating.
Shira Toren is an emerging American-Israeli artist. Born in Tel-Aviv, she moved to New York City to study fine art and design. She received her BFA from the Pratt Institute and An Associate Degree in Art Therapy from The New School Toren has studied at The Art Student League under the guidance of renowned American painters William Scharf, Knox Martin and Bruce Dorfman, Ronnie Landfield, as well as IS.183 School of Art in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
Toren had worked as a fashion designer, and owned a home design studio. She also worked as an art therapist with foster care children, and women who suffer from eating disorders. In recent years she has returned to her first love of fine art.
Toren is a recipient of The Henry Matisse Estate Scholarship for 2009/10. Ms. Toren is currently working in her studio in Soho, New York. Her work can be seeing at various galleries in NYC and other USA cities. www.shiratoren.com shiratoren@gmail.com
About the Kimmel Galleries: Established in 2003, Kimmel Galleries are dedicated to providing visually dynamic and thought provoking exhibitions. Located on the East wall of the 8th floor of the Kimmel Center for University Life at 60 Washington Square South. They are free and open to the public. For more information, or a tour of the gallery please contact the Curator, Pam Jean Tinnen, at 212 298 4616, or pam.tinnen@nyu.edu.
Past exhibitions include: Field Season: records, wandering perspectives, side notes, a selection of photographs from Abydos, by Greg Maka, Amanda Kirkpatrick and Gus Gusciora; Preconceived Notions; and Perspectives: A photography exhibit about traveling and living in our world; among others.
