Kelly Kirkpatrick: Did Someone Say Flowers?

Solo Exhibition on view until June 10, 2023 (Tuesday – Saturday, 11-5 pm)
Meet the Artist, June 3, 2-4
Ruth Upjohn Gallery in the Women’s Art Association of Canada, Toronto

In DID SOMEONE SAY FLOWERS? Toronto artist Kelly Kirkpatrick presents her first year of artwork that began with a call for Awakening from the pandemic with her piece MOTHERHOOD, and is followed by a year of experimentation with inks and acrylics on paper. These abstract paintings started with rich black media and evolved into colour. Each of these abstract pieces employs one type of flower as its brush and the essence of the flower characteristics can be seen in the work.

Kelly Kirkpatrick, MOTHERHOOD, Limited edition digital print, 24 x 36 in.

MOTHERHOOD
The pandemic brought mothers to their knees. Online schooling and isolation became anxiety, desperation, overwhelm and burnout that arose as a result of those days that blended into each other for what felt like an eternity. This piece shows the pain of what should have been a happy time turned upside down where there was no control, and the ability to get through the day felt impossible. As we are slowly, little by little accepting what was, what now is, how we are changed, and how we will never be the same, it is a time of awakening as things begin to turn around.

Kelly Kirkpatrick, Hydrangea I, Ink & Acrylic on Watercolour paper, 22 x 30 in.

Abstract paintings in Black and White & in Colour
Experimenting with India ink and acrylic to employ a flower for painting supple black lines with qualities unique to the flower itself. These abstract pieces consist of two extremes; the void of colour and the sum of all colours, creating a disorienting relationship between a black-and-white painting, and the chromatic spectrum that a flower represents. Continuing to explore the mark-making works created by painting with tulips, dahlias and hydrangeas dipped in a rich black media on paper. I love to see each type of flower’s individual markings and visual personality come to life. Creating these works in an uncontrolled and experimental way encourages me to stay in a visceral state of action which is fast and instinctual. I am evolving my work by using colour as a way to push the parameters and further emphasise the line and shape of these floral motifs.