Maria Lassnig

Recently participating in the Carnegie International in Pittsburgh, Maria Lassnig an Austrian painter creates perplexing figurations that are descriptive of personal strife. Within Lassnig’s paintings the subject is dominant over space, and color is intuitively descriptive of a state of mind. There is a playful sincerity to the figures in their handling and relative expression; the paintings communicate complex ideas while remaining seemingly naive. Lassnig has developed an expressive method of objectifying herself as a catharsis for issues relating to age, body, or sex. As an idea it is incredibly simple, but application of this existentialist thought process requires intense self evaluation. In consideration of this, Lassnig paints with a facility that is startling as it parallels her open mindedness for self. There is a harmony between the formal and conceptual motivations in her paintings as they compliment each other gracefully. Lassnig’s work is personal and accessible as it communicates poignant issues of self with originality and visual integrity. Definitely worth the drive out to Pittsburgh to see a few of her paintings in person, they are quite enjoyable to look at in relation to the stark qualities of a Guzman or Bradford.