Lauren Powell Presents:

~ Rachel Klinghoffer ~

For this series Rachel flipped the script, creating these paper pieces as a more aspirational and formal exploration of the concepts which arose while creating the sculptural paintings for her solo show If You Like Piña Coladas, curated by me, currently on view at One River School in Woodbury, New York. While continuing to provide a ray of light in hazy and uncertain times and reminding us of the power, joy, comfort, safety, and possibility that can reside within our own nostalgia, these new works on paper meditate more on emptiness and blank space. While some may view this as a void, others may view it as an energy source (like the sun) - it’s all in the perspective we choose. When things are darkest, we are reminded  that it’s all a cycle, and the horizon lines and planetary portals in the work (created with combinations of personal ephemera and other mixed media in her studio) can hold us until the sun returns. The titles for each piece come from songs Rachel used to workout and recalibrate during this murky time, and there are 18 pieces as an intentional ode to optimism, signifying the Hebrew word Chai (the symbol in the title), a spiritual number representing LIFE, and a good omen. The winter solstice - also a significant influence on this series - reminds us that it’s always darkest before the dawn, and eventually the light returns, and life returns.

Learn more about Rachel’s work here: https://www.rachelklinghoffer.com/.

Rachel Klinghoffer (b. New York, NY 1982) received her Masters in Fine Arts in Painting with honors from Rhode Island School of Design and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting with course work in Visual and Critical Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. By repurposing materials, making and remaking them into paintings and sculptures, Klinghoffer prompts a reimagining of uses for these relic-like objects. Articles reflect the artist’s personal connection to femininity, craft-making, Judaism, romance, pushing the definition of painting. Through time, the items become specimens, icons. They are poked, prodded, stained, sprayed, stroked, rubbed, dipped, then pulled, torn, cracked open and broken apart making up and becoming the new work. 

Selected exhibitions: Solo project at the Skirt Space, Ortega y Gasset Projects, Brooklyn NY; Morgan Lehman Gallery, New York, NY; The Delaware Contemporary, Wilmington, Deleware; Kristen Lorello, New York, NY; The BRIC Biennial III, Brooklyn, NY; Sweet Pass Sculpture Park, Dallas, TX; Rocklmann & Partner, Berlin, Germany; Hunter Project Space, New York, NY; Tiger Strikes Asteroid New York Flat File 2018, Brooklyn, NY; See You Next Thursday at Ortega y Gasset Projects, Brooklyn, NY; FAR x WIDE, Brooklyn, NY; Zero Zero, Los Angeles, CA; Ballast Projects and Alt Esc, Brooklyn, NY; SPRING/BREAK 2017, Cuevas Tilleard, New York, NY; The Willows, New York, NY; Fjord Gallery, Philadelphia, PA; Interface Gallery, Oakland, CA; Tiger Strikes Asteroid, Philadelphia, PA; Ms. Barber's, Los Angeles, CA; Trestle Projects, Brooklyn, NY. 

Wash over you, 2020

22” x 22” | works on paper from 2003, ribbon from gift from friend when son was born, wrapping paper from birthday gift for daughter from friend, wrapping paper from gift from sister for my daughter from Hanukkah, tissue paper from birthday gift from friend, pearl from uncle, Swarovski crystal, spray paint, flashe, acrylic, paper

I’d rather be dry, but at least I’m alive, 2020

22” x 22” | works on paper from 2003, balloon from when son was born, gift wrapping from Hanukkah gift from sister, button from paternal grandmother, Swarovski crystal, spray paint, flashe, acrylic

There’s nothing that I’d rather do than spend my sunset days with you, 2020

21” x 21” | works on paper from 2003, husband’s jeans, leather from friend, wrapping paper from Hanukkah gift from sister for daughter, button from grandmother, tissue paper from gift from friend for son, tissue paper from gift from friend for daughter, Swarovski crystal, leftover house paint, acrylic, spray paint

Roll with me ‘til the sun goes down, 2020

21” x 21” | works on paper from 2003, piece of postcard from trip to Hawaii with husband, wrapping paper from gift from sister for my daughter from Hanukkah, tissue paper from birthday gift from friend, card from from friend when daughter was born, polaroid of in laws, button from grandmother, Swarovski crystal, spray paint, flashe, acrylic, paper

I got you, moonlight you’re my starlight, 2020

21” x 21” | works on paper from 2003, piece of costume necklace from daughter, wrapping paper from gift for daughter from mother in law, artwork from daughter, balloon from when bringing daughter home from hospital when she was born, vintage movie poster from mother in law, button from grandmother, tissue paper from birthday gift from friend, piece of tablecloth made by husbands great grandmother, envelope from card from mom and dad from birthday, Swarovski crystal, spray paint, flashe, acrylic, paper

I’ll be your galaxy, I’m about to fly, 2020

21” x 21” | Leather from friend, felt from past sculpture, button from paternal grandmother art work from daughter, vintage movie poster and magnets from mother in law, piece of birthday card from mom and dad, ribbon from gift for son when born from friend, piece of shirt from husband, tissue paper from gift from friend, piece of card from card from mother and father, Swarovski crystal, spray paint, flashe, acrylic, paper

I never thought I’d hear my heartbeat so loud, 2020

21” x 21” | Balloon from bringing son home from hospital when he was born, piece of painting from graduate school, button from paternal grandmother, artwork from daughter, piece of envelope and card from my mother and father, tissue paper from gift from sister, piece of quilt from husband’s grandmother, work on paper from 2003, Swarovski crystal, spray paint, flashe, acrylic, paper

So many times the sun came up but came up without you, 2020

21” x 21” | Balloon from bringing son home from hospital when he was born, piece of painting from graduate school, button from paternal grandmother, artwork from daughter, piece of envelope and card from my mother and father, signage from back of husbands car, piece of necklace from daughter, stone from ring mother in law wore in the 60’s, work on paper from 2003, Swarovski crystal, spray paint, flashe, acrylic, paper

Breathe you in until I hallucinate, 2020

11” x 11” | leftover cardboard insert from packing up work for exhibiting, piece of necklace from daughter, Swarovski crystals, spray paint, flashe, acrylic, paper

I see us written in the stars, 2020

11” x 11” | leftover cardboard insert from packing up work for exhibiting, piece of necklace from daughter, Swarovski crystals, spray paint, flashe, acrylic, paper

Glitter in the sky, glitter in my eyes, 2020

11” x 11” | leftover cardboard inserts from packing up work for exhibiting, piece of necklace from daughter, glitter, Swarovski crystals, art from daughter, Hanukkah gelt wrapper, leather from friend, wrapping paper from gift for son from sister and brother in law, spray paint, flashe, acrylic, paper

Shining just the way we are, 2020

11” x 11” | leftover cardboard inserts from packing up work for exhibiting, leather from friend, Swarovski crystals, spray paint, flashe, acrylic, paper

Good morning little school girl, 2020

13” x 12” | wrapping paper from Hanukkah gift from sister, manila envelope from graduate school thesis workshop, leftover cardboard insert from packing up work for exhibiting, wrapper from feminine pad, Swarovski crystal, spray paint, flashe, acrylic, paper

And we rise up, 2020

8” x 8” | Old painting, crystal, cardboard, acrylic, paper

How many times must a man look up before he can see the sky?, 2020

8” x 8” | piece of painting from graduate school, leftover cardboard insert from packing up work for exhibiting, glitter, Swarovski crystal, spray paint, flashe, acrylic, paper

Looking for a room that was high above the water, 2020

8” x 8” | piece of painting from graduate school, leftover cardboard insert from packing up work for exhibiting, glitter, Swarovski crystal, spray paint, flashe, acrylic, paper

Relax the world will spin beside itself and suck you in with threats and hopes beyond compare, 2020

9” x 11” | piece of painting from graduate school, leftover cardboard insert from packing up work for exhibiting, piece of artwork from daughter, Swarovski crystal, spray paint, flashe, acrylic, paper

Moving with a simple twist of fate, 2021

6” x 8” | Button and paillettes from paternal grandmother’s sewing box, tin yitzkor star, envelope from birthday card from friend, color aid paper from undergraduate color theory class, flashe, Swarovski crystal, spray paint, flashe, acrylic, paper

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