BROOKLYN, NY – Opening our new spring season on May 2, 440 Gallery is pleased to present A Geometric Inquiry, a solo show of acrylic paintings on canvas, birch panels and paper by Catherine Orrok. Geometric abstraction becomes a geometry softened by the handmade aspect of the work. This is not a hard-edged geometry, but one that reflects the process of painting with evident brush marks and occasional drips of paint. This is Orrok’s first solo show at the gallery.
Orrok’s approach begins with the grid but purposefully disrupts its natural order. The use of color blocks provides a dynamic foundation on the canvas. By deliberately applying highly visible brushwork in some blocks and solid colors in others, Orrok adds complexity to the composition. The juxtaposition of these diverse surfaces highlights the inherent nature of paint as a medium. As the shapes traverse from the background to the foreground, Orrok skillfully captures a sense of time through the painting’s layers. The contrast of the deep Prussian blue lines contributes to the illusion of depth by outlining new spaces on top of an already manipulated grid.
By celebrating the edge and space around the canvas, Orrok draws attention to the boundaries of the image and its interactions with the surroundings. This approach reflects an intentional consideration of the relationship between the artwork and its environment, encouraging viewers to engage with the piece on multiple levels and appreciate the intersection of form and space.
Addressing her process, Orrok says, “In my painting, I am trying to build space intuitively, so I must be open to what my senses are telling me rather than what my intellect says should happen.”
Catherine Orrok was born and raised in New Jersey and received her BA in Art from Fairleigh Dickinson University. In 1982, she received her MFA from Hunter College. Orrok was represented by Yvonne Rapp Gallery in Louisville, Kentucky, until 1996. Additionally, her work was shown at Hunter College Gallery and the Clinton Art Museum in Clinton, New Jersey. More recently, she has exhibited work at SJC Brooklyn Arts Council, the Catskill Arts Space and Albany Center Gallery, as well as several shows in the Project Space at 440 Gallery.
About 440 Gallery: 440 Gallery presents engaging art to the community through exhibitions, talks, readings and events centered around direct contact with the artist. Open Thursday, Friday 4-7pm, Saturday, Sunday 12-6pm, or by appointment. 440 Gallery is in Park Slope, convenient to the F, M, and R subways.
Contact: For press and sales inquiries, including interviews with our artists, please contact Amanda Brown, Gallery Director, at 718-499-3844; [email protected]. For more information on these shows, the exhibiting artists, and the gallery, go to our website at 440gallery.com.
