Event Spotlight: The Untitled Space Presents Scratch & Sniff, a Solo Exhibition by Linda Colletta
- Liz Publika
- Jul 8, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 25
by #LizCampese
Back in the day, children used to entertain themselves by cutting colorful pieces of paper into strips and weaving those strips into square pieces of paper featuring incision-cut grids. The result was a colorful and geometric work of art that often made the young artists feel proud. The works of celebrated contemporary abstract artist Linda Colletta evoke memories of that pastime, as I examine pieces from her upcoming debut solo show at The Untitled Space.
The NYC-based gallery is pleased to present Scratch & Sniff, a solo exhibition of paintings by the Connecticut-based artist. Curated by Indira Cesarine, the exhibit opens tomorrow, July 9th, with the artist reception taking place from 6 to 8 pm. But those who cannot attend tomorrow can still see the exhibit while it’s on view until July 20th. The show promises to explore “the dynamic and tactical essence of painting in a manner that dances between poetry and punk rock.”
The title of the exhibit is pretty straightforward. By inviting viewers to place scratch-and-sniff stickers next to their favorite pieces, akin to receiving “likes” on social media platforms, the artist challenges audiences to reflect on the pervasive influence of social media on our daily lives, from its psychological toll to its emotional impact. It also gives audiences a direct way to engage with the work.
The artist is recognized for her fusion of abstract expressionism, fiber art, and sculpture. “I repeatedly use the grid as a framework for juxtaposing dynamics to be shaped by a system of elegance and precision,” explains Colletta. Her work — deeply influenced by her background in scenic painting, prop mastery, and production design — showcases her understanding of color, texture, and form.
Colletta seems interested in examining the various layers that make up our society through the fabrics and paints she uses in her work, much of which features deconstructed woven paintings. By layering diluted acrylic paint on raw canvas, tearing it into strips, and weaving it together, she makes art out of fabricated chaos. This, in many ways, mirrors our experience, trying to make sense out of the chaos that we encounter in the modern world, that we ourselves fabricated.
She aims to “establish order and resolve the hierarchy of what is seen and what is hidden in each finished work”: “All of my work begins with pooling paints onto multiple layers of unsized raw canvas, stretched flat to large-scale painting tables. Utilizing both sides of the canvas, these under-paintings evolve over months in a non-formulaic manner, collecting extraneous results of other processes, ultimately becoming the atmosphere of future paintings.”
Unlike the kids of my youth, who aimed to create a beautiful pattern or a nice picture, Colletta strives to “alchemize hardships into heroism,” perhaps similar to how people are composed of their influences, some of which are blunt and obvious while others are hidden and dull. So check out Scratch & Sniff at The Untitled Space from July 9th to July 20th. And stop by tomorrow for the artist reception to speak to the artist herself.
Note* This coverage was produced independently by Liz Campese and is featured on ARTpublika through a content partnership.