ANDREW RAFACZ continues 2018 with Flora Frenzy, a solo exhibition of new paintings by New York-based artist Caroline Larsen. The exhibition continues through Saturday, July 21, 2018.

With Flora Frenzy, Caroline Larsen presents a series of new paintings featuring densely composed floral fields and still lifes. Larsen’s lush, vibrating works are a product of a unique painterly process. Utilizing a piping bag, the artist squeezes oil paint directly onto the canvas, covering the surface with consistent lines to create patterns that delineate form and dimension. The resultant works are both compositional and representational, born from a practice that uses arrangement as its prime action.

Spending her early life on the southwestern coast of Florida and later in Panama, Larsen’s paintings are ultimately autobiographical. She taps her memories of tropical flora and sun-drenched landscapes to create her vibrant constructions. With this newest body of work, the artist has also introduced the patterning of a women’s handbag encountered on a recent trip to Barcelona. With its bold black and white checkered pattern, it provides a striking contrast to the organic shapes and bright colors of her depictions of the natural world.

Influenced by the pseudo-psychedelic works of artists such as Peter Saul and Erik Parker, Larsen organizes the imagery in her paintings in such a way that allows the viewer to oscillate between moments of vivid form and abstraction depending on their distance from the surface. Referencing ornamental decoration, floral arrangement, and still life, Larsen’s paintings bear resemblance to densely woven textiles. Her works strike a remarkable balance between dense patterns and structured lines, creating a multifaceted experience for the viewer.

CAROLINE LARSEN (Canadian, b. 1980) lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. She received her BA from The University of Waterloo in 2004 and her MFA from the Pratt Institute in 2015. Recent solo exhibitions include The Hole NYC (New York City, NY), Wave Hill Botanical Gardens (Bronx, NY), Gordon Gallery (Tel Aviv, Israel), and Craig Krull Gallery (Santa Monica). Solo projects include Mirror/Mirror at Spring Break Art Fair and Fresh Paint Art Fair in Tel Aviv. Group exhibitions include No Commission (Berlin, Germany, Miami, Florida) curated by Swizz Beats, Dio Horia (Mykonos, Greece), The Hole NYC (New York City, NY), Guerrero Gallery (San Francisco, CA), Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Bentonville, AR), Cob Gallery (London, England). Larsen recently completed a residency with Dio Horia in Mykonos, Greece. This is her first solo exhibition with the gallery.

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Tags: andrew rafacz, Caroline Larsen, Chicago, Flora Frenzy, near west side