Christine Rasmussen: And…
September 25 - October 10

OPENING RECEPTION
Saturday, September 25, 5-8PM

CLOSING RECEPTION
Sunday, October 10, 12-5PM

In this new series, Christine Rasmussen explores the uncertainty and possibility of empty urban landscapes that hover between familiar and imagined. Searching for clarity amidst the chaos of both inner and outer worlds, she uses meditative brush strokes and expansive skies to evoke moments of calm.

For Rasmussen, in-between spaces are symbolic of the ambiguity in life. Common and unremarkable spaces go unnoticed in everyday routines. In taking the time to first notice and then paint these spaces in slow-drying oils, Rasmussen attunes herself – and perhaps the viewer – to slow down, orient, and shift perspective. The work is grounded in details and familiar motifs: corrugated metal fences, rooftops, and alleyways.

While Rasmussen’s paintings have always been devoid of people, the empty cityscapes became eerily prescient during the global pandemic lockdowns. In the disorientation of the last 18 months, Rasmussen’s gaze shifted, increasingly looking skyward. Tranquil streets meet the grandeur of stratifying clouds and cascading light of sunsets, suggesting another kind of in-between space: one of curiosity and wonder. Allowing the sky to take over larger portions of the work, she juxtaposes the vastness and expanse of the sky to the human constructions beneath.

The paintings are a moment in a longer narrative. The implied continuation of the scenes off the sides of the canvas suggests that, like life, the full story is not contained in a single frame. Details invite the viewer to look more closely and bring their own experiences to imagine what lies beyond, what comes after the “and…”.

Exhibition runs through October 10.

GALLERY HOURS:
Tues-Sun 12pm-5pm & by appointment
(closed Mondays)

CHRISTINE RASMUSSEN (b. 1987) is an American artist raised in Pakistan, Vietnam and the United States. Now based in Los Angeles, Rasmussen earned a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley in Art Practice and Peace & Conflict Studies. She has exhibited in multiple juried exhibitions, including at George Billis Gallery LA, LAUNCH LA and the Brand Art Center. Her work has been featured in numerous publications including ShoutOut LA, Artillery, Art & Cake and Voyage LA. Her work features in the Hilbert Museum of California Art, Imagery Estate Winery and private collections worldwide.

christinerasmussenart.com
@ChristineRasmussenArt