Lola Shepard is thrilled to announce VII: VARIATIONS & THEMES, a virtual group exhibition featuring seven artists, including artists from our distinguished roster: K. KOBAYASHI, SHARON LIGORNER, MONIQUE LUCHETTI, JUDITH OSTROWITZ, and MOSHGAN REZANIA, alongside the welcome additions of two new artists, O'DELLE ABNEY and KAREN FITZGERALD. Opening on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at 10:00 AM on the gallery’s website and available for viewing until December 27, 2024, this exhibition brings together a wide-ranging collection of artistic practices spanning painting, drawing, collage, and gilding.

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VII: VARIATIONS & THEMES highlights the distinctive techniques and conceptual depth of each artist, offering insights into the underlying motivations driving their creative practices. While the artists’ styles vary widely, encompassing both abstract and representational works, they share a foundation of technical mastery and boundless imagination. Each artist contributes a unique voice, shaping ideas into artworks that enrich the broader tapestry of contemporary art. The gallery’s ongoing dedication to supporting artists whose work engages with themes related to the natural world, philosophical and spiritual inquiry, cultural identity, and process-oriented methodologies is evident in this cohesive yet eclectic presentation. 

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THE NATURAL WORLD

SHARON LIGORNER who lives and works in Massachusetts, finds inspiration in the universal shapes, patterns, and geometry inherent in the natural world, bringing these forms to life through intricate collages. She assembles magazine cutouts and abstract shapes, where colors and forms harmonize to reveal beauty in unexpected places. Her collage works Hummingbird, Window, and Interior Sign convey the joy of uniting disparate elements, with each cut-out settling naturally into a vivacious expression of our connection to the world around us. 

 

In her latest series, Invasive Plants, Hudson Valley artist MONIQUE LUCHETTI examines the intricate ecosystems beneath our feet. Prompted by her experience cultivating a native garden upstate and her study of mycelium networks that connect plants and trees, Luchetti’s drawings reveal the hidden networks of roots and the cycles of decay and renewal within the soil. Her work reflects on the ecological balance between native and invasive species, questioning which plants are truly “welcome” and emphasizing the essential interconnectedness of the earth and its ecosystems. 

 

Iranian-born, Westchester-based artist MOSHGAN REZANIA channels her deep connection to the natural world into bold, color-rich landscapes. Her abstract expressionist plein air impasto works depict nature’s dynamism through sweeping brushstrokes and bold abstractions. Conveying both the vitality and tranquility of landscapes, Moshgan’s multi-layered paintings exemplify a sense of wonder and an appreciation for the insights that Mother Nature impart. 

 

PHILOSOPHICAL AND SPIRITUAL INQUIRY 

New York City artist KAREN FITZGERALD’s luminous tondo paintings focuses on the elusive relationship between light and spirit. She employs layered surfaces of mica, Venetian plaster, and oil, surrounding each with a ring of metallic gilding. The gilded rings encircling the paintings function as a distinctive mark, akin to a halo—a nod toward the metaphysical. Fitzgerald’s work serves as visual bridge between the material and spiritual worlds. Light Rising, Earendel (named after the Webb telescope’s discovery of the ancient star), and Hearing the Light, are part of a series entitled What the Light Saw, offering pictorial speculations on the energies illuminating our universe and the unification of matter and spirit. Through subtle shifts in color and texture, Fitzgerald’s artwork reflects on the unseen forces around us. 

 

New York City-based artist JUDITH OSTROWITZ integrates her work with the symbolic language of alchemy, Qabalah, and Tarot, producing surreal compositions that unify the mundane and mystical worlds. In First Three, she depicts the alchemical elements—Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt—as symbols of Mind, Desire, and Substance. Motifs like a bird in flight, a fiery hoop, and an indigo square embody these principles in flux. In The Perfected Matter Attracts the Fire of Heaven, rough-hewn stones—one featuring a circular opening at its center revealing a patch of blue sky and another draped and subdued—hover alongside other abstract rocks in their own dimension. These symbol-laden panoramas signify the pathway of transformation, guided by a fiery phoenix that symbolizes success and renewal. 

 

WORLD CULTURE 

K. KOBAYASHI, a Japanese artist now based in New York City, blends Color Field painting with abstract expressionism to create powerful, evocative works. Her pieces often integrate elements of Shodo—an ancient Japanese art of calligraphy, or “the way of writing”—infusing her compositions with graceful, flowing strokes. Working primarily with acrylic and oil, she builds dense, gestural compositions marked by bold, autumnal color fields. Through these works, Kobayashi draws from her memories, encapsulating the ephemeral yet enduring essence of her experiences and heritage. 

 

PROCESS-DRIVEN 

Long-time New Yorker, O'DELLE ABNEY’s Ethereal Series demonstrates the dramatic power of the poured painting technique, where fluid layers and expressive brushstrokes merge to create a powerful sense of movement. Beginning with a solid, sprayed base on a white paper board, Abney builds upon this foundation with an active, fluid second layer of poured paint that adds a sense of immediacy and unpredictability. The surrounding space is filled with wave-like lines that reach the borders, amplifying the energy within each composition. Rich, complementary hues and gestural, emotionally charged brushstrokes become central elements, balancing structure and fluidity. Through this experimental process, Abney achieves visually compelling harmony.​

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