Kelly Bjork
February 25, 2019
Kelly Bjork paints domestic interiors-- scenes of tenderness, intimacy, and vulnerability in which she envisions something like utopian cohabitation. Her paintings are rich with patterns, sometimes in perspective but often rendered flatly: rugs, tiles, wood floors, shower curtains, drapery. These clean, well-lit spaces are populated by white creative millennial types and their minimal possessions. Presumably autobiographical, these paintings tell the imminently relatable story of getting by in the 21st century-- learning to appreciate apartment living, doing more with less, and cultivating tenderness amidst it all.
Moving Forward, gouache + pencil on paper, 2018
Tender Coven, gouache + pencil on paper, 2017
In Tender Coven we see two ladies on opposite ends of a red couch, smiling at each other like a joke is settling in. On the wall above them is a painting by Kimberly Trowbridge. The title invokes softness and care while also referring to spirituality, sisterhood, and the re-emergence of groups like W.I.T.C.H. (Women's International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell). I like to think that the ladies on the couch are Kelly and Kimberly and that the coven is a loving and supportive community of artists. But then, it's easy for me to imagine Bjork's paintings as tiny utopias.
Baptism, gouache, watercolor + pencil on paper, 2018
Shower Talk, gouache + pencil on paper, 2018
As a man raising a young son to be tender and emotionally resilient, I appreciate how the men in Bjork's paintings are often shown as soft and vulnerable. In Shower Talk there is a singular hairy, bearded man standing naked in the shower with a pink towel on his head. His face is reflected in two mirrors and we get the sense (with help from the title) that he's having a conversation with himself. Showering is a deeply introspective ritual. All white noise and muscle memory. The act of masculine self-reflection is itself anti-patriarchal because The Patriarchy insists that its men are unflinching, unfeeling creatures of logic and pragmatism. The painting shows an endearing example of a possible path forward towards a less toxic masculinity.
Future Plans, gouache + pencil on paper, 2016
Deep-Water Ladies, gouache + pencil on paper, 2016
Splayed Produce is a rare example of a Bjork painting not populated by people. In the flat space stand a table, 2 chairs, and a cabinet. The love and care of a human hand is evidenced throughout. House plants, big jars of pickles in the cabinet, fresh bananas, tomatoes, and a lemon on the countertop, and a halved avocado served on a plate atop the table. One chair is pushed back slightly, telling us someone was just there. There are no people but the space is still warm with presence. This is how magic works. It's about care, signs, ritual, intention.
Splayed Produce, gouache + pencil on paper, 2016
Head Rest, gouache + pencil on paper, 2016
This March Kelly is traveling to Joshua Tree to do a painting residency with Kimberly Trowbridge and Sara Long. And this coming September, she has her first solo exhibition in NYC at the Nancy Margolis Gallery in Chelsea. Follow along on IG: @kelly_bjork
