The Alfred Van Loen Gallery at the South Huntington Library is currently showcasing “Impressions,” a solo exhibit of paintings and woodblock prints by local artist Nancy Kirk.
The gallery will feature two groups of Kirk’s work. “The Gap Between Breaths” is her abstract expressionist paintings, and “Pictographs” her woodblock prints on Japanese paper.
Kirk’s paintings, “The Gap Between Breaths,” are large, gestural oils on linen, mostly black and white with hints of color and graphic lettering. They are organic expressive abstractions with influences of Franz Kline and Japanese brushwork. They mix principals of east and west philosophies revealing an energy evoking rhythms of the natural world.
Kirk shifts to her printmaking in “Pictographs.” These are monoprints that she hand carves from cherrywood blocks and rubs onto red rice paper. Taos inspired, they are quiet reflections both ethereal and earthly. Kirk’s contemporary sensibility integrating icons offers a fresh and timeless visual and perceptual experience rooted in artisanal traditions. She encounters everything through her art, says Kirk. Her how and why of life finds expression through varied disciplines of visual art.
A native of Berkeley, California, Kirk began her formal art studies at the California College of Arts and Crafts. She continued her studies in Florence for ten years while working under Raffaele Del Salvo, head scenic designer at Florence’s renowned opera house, Il Teatro Communal, and alongside legends such as Ricardo Muti, Beni Montessori, and Paolo Bortoluzzoi.
Returning back to the U.S., she worked as a commercial illustrator, authoring and illustrating books for children, and has had her photographs exhibited. Her works on canvas have been shown in numerous galleries in Florence, Bologna, Seattle, Berkeley, and New York. She has been a resident of Sea Cliff for many years, and has applied her knowledge of illustration, set design, and painting to a successful career of fine interior art. While her paintings grace some of the area’s most exclusive homes, she continues to pursue a lifelong passion in abstract expression. Her studio is open to visitors by appointment.
“Impressions” will be on display through April 3. The Alfred Van Loen Gallery at the South Huntington Library is located at 145 Pidgeon Hill Road in Huntington Station.
