Nicole Katsuras | Metamorphosis

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Nicole Katsuras, "Flaming Wick," 2023

oil on canvas. Courtesy of the Gallery.

Opening Reception June 3, 2-4pm

Nicole Katsuras’ approach embraces various past traditions in art history while attempting to create a new formal vocabulary. Informed by the nuances of the oil medium and a plethora of visual stimuli, Katsuras uses a bold yet intricate extruded paint technique to compose lively, elegant, emotion-filled and playful abstracted scenes.

ARTIST STATEMENT

In this new body of work, I explore the symbolic aspects of the multi-layered term Metamorphosis. Biologically, metamorphosis is defined as a complete change of physical form, like the four stages of a butterfly. However, symbolically, the meaning is rooted in the supernatural and inner worlds of one’s being or soul. This meaning uses the butterfly as a metaphor: throughout history and across cultures, butterflies are seen as harbingers of change, regeneration and transformation, and are reminders of the fleetingness of life. In Greek, the word psyche also means butterfly. These symbolic, inner-world meanings of metamorphosis are what inform this series. Visually, my new paintings focus on floating forms - islands that hint at human existence and also at something intangible, fleeting and surreal.  The shifts are subtle - the movement of strokes and colours; deep aubergine backgrounds first read as inky blacks; gradients shift directions and scale. 

– Nicole Katsuras 2023