Hilary Pecis' Artistic Evolution

Los Angeles-based painter Hilary Pecis has marked a substantial shift in her artwork. Her past exhibitions at Rachel Uffner featured vibrant landscapes, still lifes, and interiors, which were beautifully executed but somewhat expected. Recently, Pecis has ventured into more profound explorations and delightful reveries at the David Kordansky Gallery. Her work now dives into unexplored solitudes and imaginative scenarios, demonstrating her evolution beyond merely producing attractive flat images. “I’m figuring out how to paint,” Pecis shared over text, highlighting the creative journey all artists face. Her new pieces are mesmerizing two-dimensional artworks that blend color, texture, and complexity. They seem like a fusion of Jonas Wood’s smooth large paintings, Matisse, the Pattern and Decoration painters of the 1970s, and even Hallmark greeting cards. This combination creates a unique and captivating artistic style.

In standout paintings like "Winter in L.A.," Pecis captures peaceful, suspended moments. The envy-inducing scene of Southern California's outdoor beauty and warmth, amidst verdant plants and towering mountains, is striking. She works with individual strokes reminiscent of Van Gogh, revealing a couch, chair, coffee table, and a Christmas tree, which seems slightly incongruous to East Coast eyes. Pecis excels at painting bookshelves, evoking a sense of artistic lineage with titles like Van Gogh, Niki de Saint Phalle, William Blake, Eva Hesse, and Albert York displayed as if on a temple frieze. Her paintings transform into precise flows of form, shadow, and detail, featuring photographs, pictures of a horse, and gridded window screens. In one piece, "Office," she creates a tiny still life with a microwave and a mug, generating a Mondrian-like geometric order. Notably, in "Sharon Flowers," Pecis portrays an L.A. storefront meticulously. She renders vases filled with sunflowers, aging brickwork, and a clean sidewalk, delighting in the minute details like the store's sign. Her art transforms mundane moments into flat, beautifully depicted scenes, celebrating our seen world. Pecis has made a significant artistic leap, setting the stage for even greater aspirations.

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