INITIUM | Wendy Westlake

Wendy Westlake's new body of work in INITIUM investigates where the line between ‘less’ and ‘more’ begins to blur. In this current world of uncertainty, Wendy quietly unpacks our envelope of existence, exploring sensations of restraint and release while bringing today’s chaotic uncertainty into order and equanimity. 

ABOUT THE ARTIST
  Wendy approaches painting with a sense of adventure. Each canvas is an opportunity to explore relationships through shape and color. She finds herself pondering how much territory a specific shape will occupy, whether it should expand or overlap a neighboring shape... will the forms meet in a strong defined way or will the edges barely touch in delicate softness? The use of color opens yet another avenue for interplay of relationship. A bold orange painted next to a companion bold red will look and feel completely different if paired next to a muted yellow. This dialogue of shape and color is one Westlake cannot resist.
  In a sense, each painting is either portrait or self-portrait. How does she choose to allocate the minutes of her day? What and who are her priorities? How is she affected by those closest to her and how does she influence them in turn?
  Westlake is inspired by the American Abstract Expressionists, particularly the color fields of Mark Rothko and collages of Conrad Marca-Relli.

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Image: Inflorescere, 2021, acrylic on raw canvas, 48” x 60” x 1.5”