Rehs Contemporary | 5/26-6/24 | New York, NY

Insightful Views

Five artists come together for a new group show at Rehs Contemporary.

Opening May 26 in New York City is INsight, a new group show at Rehs Contemporary.

The show will feature five international artists who live in a diverse array of places and produce an impressive variety of artwork that differs in subject matter, style and technique. The artists are Jesús Inglés and Arantza Sestayo (both Spanish), Alexandra Klimas (Dutch), Roman Pankov (Ukrainian) and Anne-Marie Zanetti (Australian).Arantza Sestayo, Desert, watercolor on paper, 29½ x 13"

Alexandra Klimas, Nancy, A Yearling Calf, oil on canvas, 15¾ x 20"

Klimas will be bringing a series of highly realistic cow portraits, including Nancy, A Yearling Calf. “It’s great that she unabashedly licks her nose nicely and looks you in the eyes,” Klimas says. “I want to share that with people. She was an ideal ‘model’ for me. For a yearling calf she stood patiently and licked her nose for a long time. Ideal for me to be able to sketch well in detail. Later in my atelier, I worked out in oil paint this composition so that a lot of attention went to her eyes and nose. I want a connection between her and the people. I hope you get a smile on your face for this lovely animal.”

The artist continues: “With my cow paintings I want to give people the opportunity to look carefully at these beautiful animals again. Pets are pampered and adored, but we are spared of images of animals for the meat industry. I want to shed light on this group of ‘forgotten’ animals. I try to paint my cows so lifelike that they look at you and a kind of intimate relationship is created. But it is and always remains a challenge to properly reflect the mood and individual character of each animal.”Anne-Marie Zanetti, Aislinn, oil on canvas, 27½ x 23½"

Zanetti will be bringing some similar portraits but with a focus on humans. She calls the series Reminisce. “The series unfolded as my youngest daughter, Bec, was transitioning from her teens. Overwhelming and painful recollections of my younger self began to emerge, and I chose to transform them into something much more positive and healthier,” Zanetti says.

“As I spent time celebrating my daughter’s independence and freedom of expression, I relaxed into my own healing process. Each painting features Bec portrayed as a young woman owning her femininity, strength and vulnerability.”Roman Pankov, Li Kimm, dry brush and charcoal on paper, 19½ x 15¾"

Jesús Inglés, La Dama del Mediterráneo, oil

A repeating motif in the paintings are Bec’s sunglasses. “Each pair of sunglasses—Versace, Burberry, Valentino and Mui Mui, a generous loan from Sunglass Hut—was selected for its individuality and design,” the artist says. “They created distinction, whilst shielding her most vulnerable and identifiable feature, her eyes.”

Inglés will be showing four new works that have themes of nature and water, including La Dama del Mediterraneo. “What I have wanted to express in my work is the greatness of the Mediterranean Sea, alluding to beauty with this beautiful lady decorated with algae hanging from her neck along with an eel as a beautiful starfish delicately climbs up her arm,” Inglés says. “But if you immerse yourself in the silence and stillness of the scene, you can hear the heart of coral beating between the sound of the sea, enhanced by some beautiful nautilus on each side of her face, accompanied by the clear voice of the flamingos, flying through a sunset sky of beautiful colors with distant whales sailing the sea.” —

Rehs Contemporary • 5 East 57th Street, 8th Floor • New York, NY 10022 • (212) 355-5710 • www.rehs.com