de boer (Los Angeles) is delighted to announce Dead Loop, a solo exhibition by Chicago-based artist Rachael Bos. This is Bos’ first solo exhibition with the gallery, featuring medium—and large-scale oil paintings that delve into the world of Olympic athletes.

Utilizing the rule of thirds to structure several of her paintings, Bos creates a visual rhythm that mirrors the natural elegance of this mathematical pattern. By integrating this spiral, Bos invites viewers to experience the underlying order and beauty found in nature and athleticism. This approach reflects her interest in how systems and structures, whether mathematical or cultural, shape our understanding of the world. The title “Dead Loop” refers to a high-difficulty gymnastic move on the uneven bars, that is now banned in competition due to its extreme difficulty. Famously first performed in competition by Soviet gymnast Olga Korbut at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Korbut was 17 at the time and was given a score of 9.8 out of 10 causing great disbelief to the audience and world at large. Bos’s choice of this title underscores her examination of athleticism and its role in shaping and distorting notions of heroism and recognition. The exhibition features a poignant portrayal of Nadia Comăneci, the Romanian gymnast renowned for being the first athlete to be awarded a perfect ten on the uneven bars at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, depicted in a contemplative, idle stance. In contrast, Bos does not include a depiction of Korbut, instead focusing on the broader implications of their stories. Bos’s approach often shifts from individual athletes to collective moments, as seen in works like Feedbacker No. 1 and Feedbacker No. 2. These paintings draw from rhythmic gymnastics routines, celebrating the choreography and teamwork while reflecting the spectator’s paradoxical experience—intimately connected to the event yet distanced from its essence. Rachael Bos (b.1999, Salt Lake City, UT) lives and works in Chicago, IL. At a young age, Rachael Bos attended the Olympic tryouts held in Salt Lake City, Utah, this memory has stuck with her as she began adopting principles of athleticism into her life and practice. Her work has been exhibited at venues such as Hans Gallery, Chicago IL; Nathalie Karg Gallery, New York, NY; Sulk Chicago, Chicago IL; No Gallery, New York, NY; The Hole, New York, NY; The Material Room, Richmond, VA; Galerie Rolando Anselmi, Rome, Italy; and de boer, Los Angeles, CA.