My friend Camille knows how much I’m obsessed with pattern right now, so she introduced me to Alex Blau’s paintings she saw recently on a visit to Anderson Ranch in Aspen, Colorado.
Ms. Blau’s paintings are relatively small, but are intricately detailed... using colors and graphic elements inspired by candy and junk food packaging. The use of acrylic polymer gives the paintings a little extra candy-goodness with a shiny gloss that isn’t altogether natural or healthy.
These paintings remind me of Krispy Kreme doughnuts — they look and taste soooo good in the moment, but ten or fifteen minutes later, you feel completely gross from all the sugar. It’s that attraction/repulsion of these sweet paintings that is so compelling.
