Lauren Rinaldi

"Fabric of Society", Figurative Oil Painting, Women in Politics

2020

This piece titled "Everywhere and Nowhere" is an original painting by Sarah Detweiler and is made from oil paint on gallery wrap canvas with preserved moss edges. This piece measures...

This figurative painting titled "Representative" is an original artwork by Lauren Rinaldi made of oil on canvas. This piece measures 48"h x 60"w. Rinaldi’s new series was inspired by the feminist debate on how women's appearances are constantly judged, criticized and dissected; often done so with the intent of diminishing their work and contributions. This issue is prevalent in all industries, but especially in the very public and important realm of politics. Throughout mainstream media, Rinaldi found countless examples of coverage depicting what a female politician was wearing and why it was deemed “inappropriate”, rather than discussing their policies. Typical of Rinaldi’s practice, most of the works found in Representative are not classic portraits, but zoomed in studies of the subject’s legs, shoes and body from the neck down. By doing so, the work focuses on the experiences and outside societal forces that these women, and women like them, have faced. To create the works in Representative, Rinaldi used sourced photographs of female politicians that felt meaningful and powerful to her. Before painting or drawing, Rinaldi manipulates each image through cropping, elongating or changing its composition, background and color. Color is especially important in Representative, as it is an expression that is frequently rejected or criticized in politics by men. Rinaldi uses vibrant jewel tones and color swaps, like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s jacket from black to fuchsia, to represent the bold new ideas and diversity these women are bringing to United States politics. While Rinaldi does not specifically name any of her subjects, viewers will be able to recognize familiar leaders from across both sides of the aisle. Visitors will see snippets of stories through these works, like Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s sparkly boots...

Juliette Lemontey (b. 1975, Metz, France) is a French artist based in Arles. Her work is an intimate exploration of the human presence, capturing both the weight and fragility of the...

Joanna Mrozowska Born in 1976 in Warsaw. Studied in the Department of Painting in the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw; she graduated with a Master’s degree in painting, with the cycle...