INA GERKEN

Ina Gerken joined us on the project in November 2021, producing five acrylic and silk paper works on canvas. Gerken’s works are unpredictable from start to finish. Relying on her own intuition the artist takes the conversation of mark making directly to canvas. A master of gesture, Gerken’s paint is instinctually smeared, splattered, dripped and scrubbed on and off the surface. During the residency these marks focused on emulating drawing through painting, using the end of a paint brush against acrylic slathered paper as a quasi-pencil. The floor of the project space influenced Gerken’s darkened colour palette for the works, and references to fellow resident Brittney Leeanne Williams can be seen peeking through in the red and blue undertones of Transition II, Bud and Arrival (2021). The complete works are generous, ingrained with the physicality of their process.

Solo shows include; RISING, Makasiini Contemporary, Turku, 2020; Under Pressure, The Cabin, Los Angeles, 2019; Art Berlin Fair, Solo Booth with Achenbach Hagemeier, Berlin, 2018; What a Feeling, Makasiini Contemporary, Turku, 2018; Blank Spots, Achenbach Hagemeier, Düsseldorf, 2018; Recent Traces, NAM project, Milan, 2017.

Group shows Include; The Nature of Abstraction, artwork Cologne, 2021; NOW NOW, Breach, Miami, 2021, Fair in St.Agnes, König Galerie, Berlin, 2020; Mixed Pickles, Wilhelm Hallen curated by Ruttkowski; 68, Berlin, 2020; breaking shells, Her Studios & Exgirlfriend Berlin, 2020; Hangover Boogie, Leeahn Gallery, Daegu / Korea, 2020; NOW! Young painting in Germany, Deichtorhallen Hamburg, 2020; The collection, OP ENHEIM / ABIS, Wroclaw, 2019; Preparation, Haydens Gallery, Melbourne, 2019; Suspended Sculpture II, Antichambre, Düsseldorf, 2019; NOW! Young painting in Germany, Kunstmuseum Bonn, Museum, 2019; Wiesbaden, Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz - Museum Gunzenhauser; NAK benefit auction, Neuer Aachener Kunstverein, Aachen, 2018 and Carolin Eidner, Ina Gerken, Sophie Reinhold, Tobias Naehring Gallery, Leipzig, 2018 amongst others.