The Painting Center is pleased to present the exhibition A Sense of Surface curated by Shazzi Thomas and Lucy Schwartzreich. This exhibition showcases the work of fifteen artists who invite the viewer to embark on an immersive exploration of texture, tactility and the sensory experience of surface.

Artists can achieve distinct visual effects on the surface—like shape, texture, color, luster, and transparency—by working on unorthodox materials. Materials typically discarded can be transformed into a base for a collage. Traditional surfaces can also be manipulated to become a work of art with no additional media applied. The diverse use of mediums and techniques used by the artists in this exhibition allows for manipulated surfaces that evoke emotions, provoke thought, and captivate the senses. Domenica Brockman creates a geometric layered surface with collage and mixed media on panels, while Elizabeth Snelling builds on the canvas with layers of paint that offer a peek of nudes in the interior. Jason Rafferty paints landscapes on all sides of the canvas in works that are three-dimensional and stackable. Jenn Wood paints on screen prints that show various stages of inclement weather, comparable to Margaret Watson who imbues layers of paint into the surface of the atmospheric canvases. Ryniee DeCheser exposes the canvas, weaves whimsical brushstrokes throughout and adds collaged pieces to the edges. Margaret Tsirantonakis’ surfaces can be seen under layers of calligraphic marks, allowing the material to play a role in the floral composition. Kellianne McCarthy builds and removes layers using paint, silver leaf and collage to evoke a feeling of place or a dreamlike state. Colleen Kiely treats her panels with light washes to suggest delicate yet animated figures, whereas Lindsy Halleckson applies paint without impurities, its smoothness suggesting depth on the gradient surface. Liz Atlas utilizes bulky brushstrokes and the collaging of wood, fabric and paper to reveal delineated edges, and Pamela Marks constructs geometric paintings on the surface of book pages that contain images of earth and environmental systems. Ute Bertog builds up layers of thick paint on the canvas with gestural strokes and blocks of color. Michael Alan Lorefice creates the illusion of depth by using line and color to signify photographic forms that sit on top of the exposed surface. Reba Kittredge Tyson paints smooth and angular interiors with figures that express emotion and the human condition. A Sense of Surface challenges conventional perceptions of art by placing emphasis on the tactile and palpable qualities of surface. By exploring the nuances of surface, we uncover hidden narratives and forge deeper connections with the artistic process.