Tag: katherine bernhardt

Katherine Bernhardt at Canada NYC

Known for the ‘stupid, crazy, ridiculous, funny patterns’ (a 2014 show title) of her paintings, Katherine Bernhardt’s new work at Canada NYC continues to amuse with repeating images of Bart Simpson at his most irreverent.  Dropping his shorts and flanked by two giant smoking cigarettes, the day-glo cartoon character is an emblem of provocation and yet hard to take seriously. Bernhardt finds more contrast in each paintings’ combination of street-art channeling spray-painted outlines vs washy acrylic staining that signals considered painterly abstraction.  To those who might worry about the seriousness of Bernhardt’s series, the painting’s title applies: ‘Don’t have a cow, man.’ (On view through Feb 25th).

Katherine Bernhardt, Don’t have a cow, man,’ acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 60 x 48 inches, 2022.

Katherine Bernhardt at Canada New York

There’s trouble in the tropics in Katherine Bernhardt’s latest solo show of pattern paintings at Canada New York. Watermelons appear alongside toilet paper, birds in flight next to cigarettes as nature contrasts man-made products in paintings with ominous titles like ‘Climate Change.’ Here, in ‘Dole + Darth Vader,’ the Sith lord is surrounded by Dole bananas, linking a fictional face of evil to a company criticized for damaging the environment and harming workers. (On view on the Lower East Side through Feb 11th).

Katherine Bernhardt, Dole + Darth Vader, acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 72 x 60 inches, 2017.

Katherine Bernhardt in ‘Make Painting Great Again’ at Canada New York

At eight feet high, Katherine Bernhardt’s vibrant, textile-like painting overwhelms with powerful graphics while her subject matter – plantains, cigarettes, basketball and Lisa Simpson – samples pop culture and everyday objects with strong associations. (At Canada New York through July 15th).

Katherine Bernhardt, Two Simpsons, Plantains, Basketballs, Cigarettes, acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 96 x 120 inches, 2016.
Katherine Bernhardt, Two Simpsons, Plantains, Basketballs, Cigarettes, acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 96 x 120 inches, 2016.

Katherine Bernhardt at Canada Gallery

Known for her unnerving, expressionist renditions of fashion models, New York painter Katherine Bernhardt steps into new territory with food-centric pattern paintings whose collective title, ‘Stupid, Crazy, Ridiculous, Funny Patterns’ accurately introduces their surprising, bold and humorous nature. (At the Lower East Side’s Canada Gallery through March 9th).

Katherine Bernhardt, Steaming Hot Coffee and Cigarettes and Pizza, acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 2013.