New York painter Katherine Bradford’s swimmers – a recurring subject – include ephemeral, washy suggestions of submerged figures and bolder, mostly visible individuals standing still in the water. New work at Canada in Tribeca favors more dominant figures, filling the space of the canvas with their solid forms and often expressionless faces. ‘In the Lake,’ features individuals who float, walk or stand in dark water perhaps lit by the moon, each in their own space; with their arms outstretched, several figures appear to be relaxing while an orange-topped figure waits and a man starts to exit the scene to the right. Bradford excels at complex realities, as past shows suggest – e.g. the terror and pleasure of waves in 2016 or the comforting and confining closeness of mothers and children in 2021. Here, mostly placid faces suggest tranquility but closeness and individual isolation among the swimmers leaves room to wonder. (On view through Dec 22nd).
