Artists look everywhere for inspiration, and Katherine Bernhardt once found a source in Drake, contributing to W Magazine’s 2015 art issue with a piece based on the rapper’s work. Now the Clayton, Mo., native is the subject of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth’s new Focus exhibition.
Previously, the artist went through a phase where she executed expressionist paintings from photos of models in magazines. Then, she collaborated with her husband Youssef Jdia to make paintings and collages based on Moroccan rugs and Caribbean textiles. Now she places banal objects like basketballs, Doritos, toilet paper rolls, cigarettes, and tacos against flat fields of color in vibrant, semi-abstract patterns. The effect of the repetition and the placement of the objects is one of these consumer goods blazing out at you, showering you with an almost oppressive abundance. All these you’ll be able to see when the show opens at the Modern this week.
Focus: Katherine Bernhardt runs Apr 8-May 9 at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St, FW. Tickets are $4-10. Call 817-738-9215.
