2016 Catalogue Archive

The experimental geometry of Rachel Hellmann’s relief paintings is intensified by her use of patterning and color. Her formalist design echoes the sculptural lines within Please Come Flying, exaggerating angles and hiding some of the work’s depth. The title, along with other works in the series like Glide or Hole in the Sky, underscores the nearly weightless effect of the piece, though each work is constructed from solid poplar wood. Hellmann’s pieces invade the viewer’s space with their playful energy and vibrancy.