ARTIST STATEMENT
Nature, with all of its intricate structures and hidden systems, has been providing source material for my work for quite some time. I am interested in the slow cycle of growth and decay, as well as the spontaneity of movement when elements of time are considered, such as wind or light and shadow. Natural patterns and structures, or ‘architecture,’ don’t follow a particular order, yet these patterns can be translated into our constructed lives through organization (grids or wallpaper designs, for example), so there is a connection between these visual constellations. My work is about my observations of these systems of connections in the natural environment – taking elements from that environment to create a new context. I am also interested in exploring the notion of space – boundary-less/open space (the natural world) and defined/closed space (design elements) with the idea of ultimately creating a contemplative space. I am attracted to imagery that may seem visually banal (such as a fallen tree) and elevating it to a higher level of awareness, creating an equivalence between blandness and emotion.
BIOGRAPHY
Kiki Gaffney graduated from Loyola College in Baltimore, MD with a BA in Studio Arts and received an MFA in Painting from the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA. Gaffney is primarily a painter and works in oils and acrylic, often with incorporated and detailed graphite drawing. She is continually inspired by the visual patterns she notices in her everyday surroundings, whether organically formed in nature (ie, grooves in rock or veins of a leaf) or manufactured by human activity (ie, wallpaper or chain link fence). Her work juxtaposes animate shapes with design elements to explore the direct relationship between natural and created ‘atmospheres,’ the analytical and sequential accuracy, and order in the mark making. It is an active, meditative process, with the ultimate purpose of highlighting the beauty of configuration and decoration to create space for contemplation.