“Acts of Observation” by Artist Rachel Gregor

A new body of work by Kansas City-based artist Rachel Gregor. Gregor graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2012 and has studied abroad at Studio Art Centers International in Florence, Italy. Working primarily in gouache and oil paint, Gregor composes layered figurative works that blend observation, fantasy, art history, and folklore. Her earth-tone palettes clash with alien green and neon oranges, while acidic ink washes and bright undertones illuminate the over-painting, suggesting an uncanny light-from-within. Shadows misalign with multiple light sources, alluding to an ever changing sense of time and space.

Her latest body of work, “Acts of Observation,” highlights a quieter, more meditative part of her practice. Painting from direct observation, Gregor’s self-portraits often appear in front of larger, narrative-based works in progress, creating layers of interconnection and opportunities for play and experimentation. She’s also taken on a more poetic approach and mindfulness that gives way to a sense of intuition and immediacy, wherein the act of looking is its own reward.

“Acts of Observation” is on display with Hashimoto Contemporary from September 6 until the 27th.