The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art presents Video Villa: New Paintings by Barbara Grad on view February 4–May 28, 2011.
The paintings in Video Villa: New Paintings by Barbara Grad take as their inspiration the dynamic intersection of worlds seemingly at odds; maps (found several years ago in a cache stored by her son) offering secret entrée into gaming worlds, and the aerial topography of the boundaries between the built and the natural world. The painter, Barbara Grad, shows her stunning command of painterly abstraction, both geometric and organic, while never losing a love of the real; she is our guide. She moves us from a belief that we are in a recognizable place into an even more convincing reality of a painterly space. She never mimics nature but stays rooted in a painted, convoluted space.
Founded in 1994, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art presents modern and contemporary art of the highest quality and significance. It collects, preserves, documents, interprets, and exhibits a growing permanent collection; develops and presents special exhibitions; and offers a variety of educational programs. Admission is always free and the Museum serves a diverse and inclusive public population.
Image: Barbara Grad, Video Villa, 2010; oil on linen, 57 x 90 inches; courtesy of the artist
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art 4420 Warwick Blvd. Kansas City, Missouri 64111 Tel 816-753-5784 Fax 816-753-5806
www.kemperart.org