Unspun, 2005
Unspun, 2005
8x8 feet




 Nellie King Solomon: SuperBall: Recent Paintings

San Francisco artist Nellie King Solomon opens SuperBall, an exhibition of recent paintings at Brian Gross Fine Art on Thursday, October 27, with a reception for the artist from 5:30-7:30pm. Known for her spontaneous abstractions, Solomon continues to emphasize movement and chance in her dramatic, gestural compositions.

In her first show at Brian Gross Fine Art, Solomon exhibits accomplished, improvisational paintings. She applies acrylic to catamate, a heavy-duty mylar, in her large-scale diptychs that measure 8 feet square and her smaller, single panel works that range in size from 1 foot square to 2 by 5 feet. Her Test Strips, for example, are a series of 1 by 4 foot panels that document her materials and techniques, which result in strikingly candid insights into Solomon's working process.

Solomon explores the dynamic properties of paint by placing the catamate over a topographical-like 'map' constructed from found objects in her studio. To better understand how the 'landscape' will affect the poured paint, Solomon experiments with a rubber SuperBall allowing it to freely navigate the surface. During these tests, she maps the ball's movements, which enables her to relinquish control and let chance determine the final composition. In Unspun, Solomon juxtaposes linear gestures with planned compositional devices in a range of electric and muted colors. Solomon's deft usage of translucent and opaque pigments combined with her keen sense of line make for playful, yet explosive expressions in paint.

Nellie King Solomon was born in San Francisco, California in 1971. She received her MFA from California College of the Arts, and her BA from the University of California, Santa Cruz. In 2004, Solomon participated in the New Northern California Abstractionists, at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, CA. She has exhibited throughout the United States. The exhibition continues through December 10, 2005.