Kathleen Kucka
Encyclopedia
.
Kathleen Kucka, is an American painter.
in 1984, at the The Cooper Union
for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York
. In 1994 she earned her Master of Fine Arts
at the Hunter College
, also New York.
As a group, Kucka’s two- and three-dimensional works share one common duality: they allude to both micro- and macrocosms. Associations range from cell structures to cosmic star constellations, from clearly defined sections to seemingly infinite spheres. Meanwhile, they embrace a sense of fluctuation. When studying these compositions, it is challenging to decide whether our gaze is narrowing in on a concrete detail, or if we are observing something from afar. It is Kucka’s strength that she leaves us guessing, wondering if we are witnessing a scene documented through a microscope or captured from an aerial view. Her work though suggests that to find an answer is not a necessity. In Kucka’s realm, we find ourselves reminded of the interrelations between all things, be they of a natural or manmade origin.
Benjamin Genocchio
from the New York Times, describes Kucka's work as resembling microscopic images of human tissue. He was referring to the exposition "I Dream of Genomes" in the Islip Art Museum in 2008.
Kucka herself describes her work as a “collage done with paint” that creates a “dance of movement and patterns.”
Kathleen Kucka, is an American painter.
Education
Kucka earned her Bachelor of Fine ArtsBachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
in 1984, at the The Cooper Union
Cooper Union
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, commonly referred to simply as Cooper Union, is a privately funded college in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States, located at Cooper Square and Astor Place...
for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. In 1994 she earned her Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
at the Hunter College
Hunter College
Hunter College, established in 1870, is a public university and one of the constituent colleges of the City University of New York, located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Hunter grants undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate degrees in more than one hundred fields of study, and is recognized...
, also New York.
Work
Kathleen Kucka's work combines two seemingly opposed entities: biomorphic forms and manmade structures. She moves freely between these poles, which when studied in relation, enhance each other’s unique characteristics. Through this parallel pursuit, Kucka establishes an imaginative zone, a cross section formed by two overlapping orbits. In this unusual space, she formulates her vocabulary. She continues to derive inspiration from nature, while focusing her attention on geometry. This approach reflects a keen interest in 20th Century and contemporary abstraction. In fact, her new body of work can be understood as a contemplation of this genre’s facets, its traditional variations, values and historical chapters.As a group, Kucka’s two- and three-dimensional works share one common duality: they allude to both micro- and macrocosms. Associations range from cell structures to cosmic star constellations, from clearly defined sections to seemingly infinite spheres. Meanwhile, they embrace a sense of fluctuation. When studying these compositions, it is challenging to decide whether our gaze is narrowing in on a concrete detail, or if we are observing something from afar. It is Kucka’s strength that she leaves us guessing, wondering if we are witnessing a scene documented through a microscope or captured from an aerial view. Her work though suggests that to find an answer is not a necessity. In Kucka’s realm, we find ourselves reminded of the interrelations between all things, be they of a natural or manmade origin.
Benjamin Genocchio
Benjamin Genocchio
Benjamin Giorgio Genocchio is an Australian-born non-fiction writer and art critic resident in New York who writes for the New York Times. He is the author and editor of seven books.-Education:...
from the New York Times, describes Kucka's work as resembling microscopic images of human tissue. He was referring to the exposition "I Dream of Genomes" in the Islip Art Museum in 2008.
Kucka herself describes her work as a “collage done with paint” that creates a “dance of movement and patterns.”
Solo exhibitions
- 1995 Thread Waxing Space, Project Room, New York, NY
- 1995 Saint Peterís Church, Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
- 1999, 2001, 2003 Jeffrey Coploff Gallery, New York, NY
- 2004 Kristen Frederickson Contemporary Art, New York, NY
- 2004 Marsha Mateyka Gallery, Washington, DC
- 2006 Brenda Taylor Gallery, New York, NY
- 2009 Marsha Mateyka Gallery, Washington, DC
- 2010 Fluidity, Gallerie Roger Katwijk, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- 2011 Ultra Structures, Brenda Taylor Gallery, New York, NY
External links
- http://www.kathleenkucka.com