112 Gallery
Reality & Ideality, Taeil Kim
Taeil Kim begins his art by thinking, “how will I observe and re-create the figure?” Influenced by his observations of peoples’ daily interactions with nature, he is able to create moving and unique portraits. Kim is heavily influenced by the work of such masters as Rembrandt and 19th Century Impressionism. These influences are reflected in the expressive brushwork and heavy use of Chiaroscuro he employs to add drama and depth to his paintings. The result is a beautiful and cohesive body of work. Kim received his MFA in Fine Art, Illustration from the Academy of Art University in 2012.
104 Gallery
Layers of Vanity, Melissa Small
Contrary to the seemingly trivial subjects of daily life such as lipstick and nail polish, Melissa Small’s series, Layers of Vanity, tackles the much deeper subject of female image and identity in contemporary culture. By focusing on makeup and shoes, Small hopes to urge the viewer to think about the actions that many women take to accentuate or conceal parts of themselves. Working with a colorful palette and keeping her compositions simple, she is able to “keep things lighthearted but promote thoughtfulness.” Melissa graduated with a BA in studio arts from Hartwick in 2008 before receiving her MFA in Fine Art, Painting from the Academy of Art University in 2012