A new exhibition, Ellen Berkenblit: In Motion, showcases a collection of lithographs made by the Tamarind Institute resident artist in 2003, 2020, and 2022. An opening for the exhibition will be Friday, Aug. 25, from 5-7 p.m. in the Albuquerque gallery.
“Throughout my years at Tamarind, I have always been drawn to Ellen Berkenblit,” said Tamarind gallery director Kylee Aragon Wallis. “She creates work that defies simple categorization, straddling the boundaries of narrative, representation, and abstraction. Incorporating elements like people, animals, plants, and objects, her compositions hint at the potential for narrative and other representational interpretations. Her dynamic interplay of rotating characters generates a captivating visual experience. Having the opportunity to explore Berkenblit's artistic evolution over the course of nearly two decades is both an honor and a pleasure.”
In Motion captures the essence of Berkenblit’s exploration of line and movement. Through kinetic figures that act as conduits, her dynamic compositions come to life. The title itself conveys vibrant energy, fluidity, and the narrative possibilities evoked by these figures. The exhibition provides an opportunity to explore Berkenblit's artistic evolution and the development of her visual language over the course of nearly two decades.
In addition to the exhibition that runs through Dec. 22, an in-person talk with Berkenblit is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 21. The artist will talk about her practice, her recurring cast of characters, and her experience with collaborative printmaking at Tamarind Institute. Space for the event should be reserved online.
Berkenblit received her BFA from Cooper Union in 1980. She was a Guggenheim fellow in 2014. In 2019 she created Leopard’s Lane, a site-specific mural for the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago’s Atrium Project. Recent solo exhibitions include the Drawing Center, New York; Rodolphe Janssen, Brussels; Anton Kern Gallery, New York; and Vielmetter, Los Angeles. Her work is in the permanent collections of the Brooklyn Museum; Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Museum of Modern Art, New York; and Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, among others.
Visit Ellen Berkenblit’s artist page here for more information.
Tamarind Institute, a division of the College of Fine Arts at The University of New Mexico, is a workshop, a gallery, and a center for the art of lithography. Tamarind faculty and staff conduct research, train collaborative printers, and produce and publish original artworks with emerging and established artists from a plethora of disciplines. Tamarind Institute’s lithography process represents the alchemy of art, craft, material and synergy between artist and printer, resulting in exquisite hand-pulled impressions.
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