Outside/Inside: Exhibition of Works by Painter, Irene Abraham

Irene Abraham:  Outside/Inside

Solana Beach City Hall Gallery, Solana Beach, CA

February 16 – March 31      Reception: Thursday, March 20     5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Review by Cathy Breslaw

“Outside/Inside” is an exhibition of 16 abstract works on a variety of surfaces including canvas, board, paper, and repurposed window-shades. Abraham uses primarily curvilinear and straight lines, movement and color to create her paintings. The abstract imagery references a combination of roads and highways, maps, and what appears to be underwater sea-life to create her energetic compositions.  Abraham’s highway-like works like “In out”, “Once Up On”, “Launch”, and “In the Clover” incorporate imaginary landscapes and color palettes reflecting a narrative that peak our curiosity and invite us to ponder. “Hardwired #1” and “Memory Palace #2” reminds us of arial landscapes as might be seen from a low flying plane. “Vanish” and the diptych “Starting Line” are the largest scale works in the exhibition and along with “It’s Been Good to Know You”, the range of purples, pinks, blues and greens resemble what we may see under the sea.  Some of the works have a flat, two dimensional feel while others stretch into three dimensional space.  There is a dynamic flow to Abraham's compositions of the works and an investigation of space in the landscape whether we are viewing it from above or below our line of vision. Irene Abraham’s show can be seen through March 31^st and is well worth a visit. 

Vanish   acrylic on paper  76" x 45"

In Out    acrylic on board    24" x 36"