This July, Artereal Gallery is excited to unveil a mesmerising new body of paintings by Sydney-based emerging artist Kerrie Satava. Having graduated from the National Art School at the end of 2022, this online show marks the artist’s first solo exhibition in a commercial gallery context and presents the work of an artist whose practice continues to grow from strength to strength.
As an artist Satava possess the rare ability to surrender to her unconscious – which is then mined for inspiration and becomes a leading source of direction in the creation of her paintings. Through sketching, transparent layering and deliberate erasure, Satava’s works at once reveal what came before whilst also hinting at what is to come.
In the artist’s own words: “I find that there is an interesting conversation that occurs between the tissue-paper thin transparent paint and the very thick raw canvas. Something that is often barely there and something that is very much there. Through translucent layers, you can see the moves and decisions I have made as an artist. Each painting tells the story of its own creation.”
Predicated on an interest in capturing the slippery and ephemeral nature of time, Satava embraces chance and surprise, transience and improvisation, all of which play a big part in the artist’s process.
Satava elaborates: “My work is about time and space. I am always seeking to convey the feeling of transience and imperfection we experience as things change over time and as we travel through time. My work captures the constant need to surrender control and embrace the unexpected. It is about the outer self, but more importantly it is about the inner self and making the invisible visible.”
Subtle and ethereal, her soft colours seem to slowly materialise upon the canvas – magically shimmering into life. Defined by confident yet subtle mark making, with the absence of paint often playing as strong a role as its presence, Satava’s artworks seemingly hovering between a state of flux and completion.
Bewitching. Dazzling. Ethereal.
Experience Kerrie Satava.
Experience. Artereal.
“I grew up travelling back and forth between the US and Australia, eventually moving to Sydney in 2018. My art practice is focused on process-based abstraction, working across a variety of mixed media. My current body of work is an exploration of time, colour, intuition, chance, and the unconscious.
My aesthetic concerns are focused on trying to capture a sense of in-betweenness and becoming through process and medium that responds to the idea of time. Capturing a trace moment in time, a crescendo, much like a line of music or a verse of poetry. Similar to the here and now, my paintings are small excerpts from a greater continuum.
I am interested in exploring the uncertainty that comes when I surrender control and am unconstrained by conscious thought. With this comes accidental and uncontrollable outcomes, creating opportunities and reactions, that are unexpected and otherwise inaccessible.
For me it is important to embrace my working process, allowing what usually remains hidden and is traditionally not intended for presentation, to be seen. Inviting the viewer to re-enact the process gives the painting openness, energy, movement and space to breathe. Thus, creating a sense that the paintings are never finished and remain very much alive.”
Kerrie Satava, Artist Statement (2023)
Artist Biography
In 2022, Kerrie Satava graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art from the National Art School, Sydney. During her time at NAS Kerrie majored in painting whilst developing a multidisciplinary practice. Working with acrylic, collage and a variety of mixed media, her work explores time, colour, intuition, chance and the unconscious through process-based abstraction.
Kerrie also holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Colorado. After which, she worked as a project manager for the industrial design firm, Teague, where she was responsible for interiors, graphics and textile design.
A seasoned international traveller and a true global citizen, Satava grew up between both Australia and the USA. Her practice is heavily inspired by the art, culture and landscapes of the many countries she has travelled to.
Kerrie Satava has previously exhibited with Artereal Gallery, and at the National Art School in both their main gallery space and the Rayner Hoff Project Space. Kerrie is currently working towards a major new body of paintings to be unveiled in 2024-25.
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Reconnecting with Strangers
Acrylic, pencil, wax and pigment on canvas
45.5 x 35.5 x 3.2cm
Upcoming Exhibition
Previous Exhibition
