Petra Cortright's digital paintings lie at the core of her practice, merging traditional artistic genres like landscapes with the fluid, ever-changing aesthetics of the digital age. Her latest series, BURNT UMBER BROKEN SILVER AMERICAN SPIRIT, exemplifies this fusion through uniquely created compositions. Drawing from the imagery of the American West, the works layer geometric shapes, doors, and abstract textures over richly coloured depictions of the landscape. The doors evoke a sense of transition, inviting viewers to step into portals that symbolize shifts between states of being or consciousness, much like her earlier Room series (2021).
Cortright’s vibrant paintings are feasts of visual intricacies, where abstracted layers of texture suggest an interplay between natural and artificial elements. The juxtaposition of idyllic scenes and destructive forces, such as fires, serves as a metaphor for the polarizing aspects of life in America, evoking themes of freedom and conflict. This body of work challenges traditional boundaries, inviting viewers to reconsider what painting means in a digital age and to explore realms of imagination, fantasy, and introspection.
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