Figure It Out, 2021, Oil on canvas, 48 x 96 in
Ahern’s paintings blend the purely figurative with an uncompromising sense of abstraction in ways that highlight both the vulnerability and resiliency of the human form. Obsessed with the figure, she explores the cause and effect of shifting relationships as they occur within technological spaces, creating connections that speak to memory, metaphor, and perception.
Using the language of color and collage paired with forceful yet precisely controlled brushwork her paintings bring an appealing strength to compositions that convey a wealth of emotion. With this concept as her golden thread, Ahern weaves rich life experiences into paintings that create connections between figuration and surrounding symbolism. The resulting dialogue between form, composition, imagery and color is an ever-evolving conversation.
Kelly Ahern is an interdisciplinary artist whose paintings resonate with her early interest in figuration. Raised in Rhode Island she began her artistic journey growing up throughout an internet revolution and became fascinated by the influence of digital media on the female form. Ahern holds an MA in Communication & Media Studies from the University of Rhode Island where she researched and analyzed the effects of visual imagery and social media psychology. Based in Brooklyn, she has exhibited her work in group exhibitions in New York, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Kelly works with a mixture of analog and digital media including paint, collage, photography, 3D design, animation, and videography. Her work is a study of the human body as it aims to highlight intimacy and relationships within the digital age.
