wendy westlake: UNDERCURRENT
Opening Day - Saturday, April 29th, 2023 — 4 to 7pm | artist will be present | free and open to the public
Wendy Westlake’s new body of work in UNDERCURRENT investigates the underlying spatial relationships and surface tensions between shapes and colors. Several titles and themes of these new paintings are loosely based on and inspired by a 1909 edition of Lyndon Orr’s book of short stories, “The Romance of Devotion: Famous Affinities of History,” which Wendy stumbled upon at a flea market.
Orr's book led Wendy to ponder: "What drives our passion? Are we led along by mysterious powers beyond our control? What are we willing to sacrifice in order to pursue a singular desire? When does devotion cross the threshold to obsession or admiration become neurotic fixation? In this body of work, I explore these themes and others through the lens of some of the greatest romances in history."--Wendy Westlake
A modern interpretation of the book’s aged romantic stories is reimagined through Wendy's strategic placement of shapes overlapping opaque and translucent colors. Will these colorful forms collide or retreat across the raw canvas? Strong and energetic relationships through color and form are produced, loosely guided by Orr’s short stories. How will these enigmatic forms interact? How much territory should specific shapes occupy? Will they gently expand or overlap a neighboring shape, or will the forms meet in a strongly defined way? How will the final composition reveal these complex relationships? Wendy’s stunning UNDERCURRENT series mirrors monumental life forces inspired by the stories: themes drawing us together and apart, evoking mystery, attraction, power, and, ultimately, destiny.
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Wendy Westlake approaches painting with a sense of adventure; each canvas is an opportunity to explore relationships through shape and color. Originally from Washington state, Wendy earned her Associate degree in Applied Art from Pima College in Tucson, Arizona, where she studied oils, ceramics and printmaking. By 1992, Wendy was in Minnesota where she became heavily involved with the Twin Cities watercolor community. In 2012, she became a board member of the Minnesota Watercolor society, eventually becoming President from 2014-2016. Wendy soon craved working on a larger scale than paper would allow, leading her back to her earlier training with oils and acrylics. She works in her studio in Zumbrota, Minnesota.
Westlake's work is continuously influenced by her background in watercolor. She is also inspired by the American Abstract Expressionists, particularly the color fields of Mark Rothko and collages of Conrad Marca-Relli.
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For those of you who have followed this Rochester, Minnesota artist’s rise over the past few years, you will know that Wendy’s works are now available in galleries across the country and have also found homes with collectors from the Midwest and beyond. Westlake attracts attention for her modern style, often infusing mid-century influences, as well as her accomplished palettes and intuitive forms, resulting in a unique and splendid pictorial harmony displayed throughout her balanced compositions.
As we celebrate UNDERCURRENT, Wendy’s second solo show at Veronique Wantz Gallery, we look forward to sharing this collection of stunning works with you. These statement pieces will not only be striking in your space, but will continue to provoke reflection, peacefulness and inspiration.
Stop by to see Wendy Westlake’s work in person, or email: gallery@veroniquewantz.com to set up an appointment--we'd love to see you!
Above left: Wendy Westlake: “Monomania,” acrylic on raw canvas, 48” x 60”
Above right: Wendy Westlake, “Naturally Enough,” acrylic on raw canvas | can be hung: 48” x 60” (horizontally) or 60” x 48” (vertically)
Above: Wendy Westlake, “Wandering Ambition,” acrylic on raw canvas, 48” x 36”
Above: Wendy Westlake standing alongside “She Might Have Held Him to the End,” acrylic, crayon and graphite on raw canvas, 75” x 60”
For more information or sales inquiries, please email: gallery@veroniquewantz.com