In the exhibition “More Skin”, Dana Volkert isolates and enlarges details at an almost cellular level, creating compelling abstract compositions in oil paint, abalone skin, and gold and silver leaf.
For these works Dana drew from a diverse group of inspirations including lotus “pods”, Matisse cut-outs, Asian screens, and, on a very personal level, her own recent pregnancy. The meticulous construction of each work involved drawing and hand-cutting “pods” out of vellum, applying and arranging them on wood panels, and then leafing or painting in multiple layers giving the finished pieces a subtle texture and a minimalist feel.
This exhibit will be the artist’s first solo show in Los Angeles and her second with the gallery (following 2005’s sold out “Skin” at Earl McGrath Gallery New York). Her works have been exhibited in numerous solo and group shows in New York, San Francisco and throughout the United States and Europe. Dana received her BA in Fine Art from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1990 and currently lives and works in Middleburg, VA with her husband, sculptor Eric Goulder, and their infant daughter.