On the Periphery

DENVER, CO., This fall Abend Gallery is proud to present On the Periphery, an exhibition of work from three distinctly unique, engaging artists whose work is so stylistically significant, it deserves a show of its own. In viewing the works of Benjamin Bjorklund, Lindsey Kustusch, and Felicia Forte all together, one gets a sense of each artists’ particular take on their environments, and the people, animals, and objects that populate them. At a glance it becomes clear how wholly original each of these artists’ style and bodies of work are, and it makes one excitedly await the progress of their individual careers. The exhibition opens on September 2nd, with the reception from 6-9 pm.
In order to really flesh out the exhibition it’s best to describe it through each of the artists separately. Benjamin Björklund is an Uppsala, Sweden based artist whose work largely features people and animals. There is a deep psychological overtone to his work which grabs the viewer right from the start, and really invites them in to dissect the details of each piece. Stylistically, Björklund often renders his subjects without highly realized facial features, making their overall appearance much softer while still incredibly gripping in a more ominous, and at times unsettling way (“Tiny Spark” and “Medelhavet III” exemplify this). His use of light and color attest to his incredible skill, further highlighting his talent and what one can glean is his deep connection with the people and creatures that inhabit his work.
Lindsey Kustusch’s work often features her environment. The architecture that makes up her surroundings is chronicled in her paintings. Kustusch’s ability to execute incredibly realistic depictions of each individual place is only rivaled by her ability to make each piece exude a true sense of those gritty, lived-in parts of San Francisco. In works like “Open Late” and “Somewhere Near Home” as viewers we are able to observe these qualities and really delve into the minute details that, when added together, make the works come alive.
Detroit based artist Felicia Forte has an incredible ability to make even the most mundane of subjects truly astounding. This exhibition will feature a myriad of paintings by the artist which provide a narrative that speaks to the objects, places, and people that characterize Forte’s world. When viewed together the paintings act almost auto-biographically, showing the viewer a glimpse into her daily life. The vivid color choices paired with Forte’s unique approach and sense of her subject matter make these paintings an incredibly interesting and dense body of work to sift through.
Each of these three artists’ bodies of work reflect the aspects of their respective worlds which speak to them the most. What makes them unique as individual artists is also what connects them. Bjorklund, Kustusch, and Forte all imbue their work with true heart and passion. The aspects that make their paintings the most note-worthy are those which reach out to the viewer and really show what each of them is striving towards. Whether it be a person, place, or object, all the work in this exhibition exists on a plane that is unrecognized elsewhere. On the Periphery is an exhibition that will be looked back upon for many years to come.