Karen Kilimnik’s work cultivates an unabashed sense of romanticism yet it retains a knowing criticality and awareness of the personal desire that we invest in both vaunted works of visual art and the more fleeting intrigue of celebrities and superstars. It also draws on the literary traditions of gothic mystery and fairy tales, presenting narratives that unfold over the course of a series of related paintings. Her expansive approach to cultural forms and the convincing inventiveness of her installations has had a profound effect on many young artists working today.
MCA Curator Dominic Molon and a series of artists, collectors, and academics explore different paintings within the exhibition.