Catherine Kaleel

Hatheway Curatorial is pleased to present paintings by Catherine Kaleel. The works will be on view April 5 – May 23, 2014.

Catherine Kaleel collects collectors. Participating in their linear intention to seek, locate, acquire and catalog objects of desire, Kaleel hunts for collectors with whom she will share connections to their objects through her painting practice. The completion of each painting enriches the cataloging process. Many strangers met through online research and some friends of friends of friends have generously opened their doors to the artist and shared their personal histories and enthusiasm for their chosen object’s beauty, function and character.

The subjects of Kaleel’s paintings range from motor bikes to cassette tapes to old film cameras, but the power of the work lies beyond simple nostalgia. In a world of transient consumption, rampant surveillance, choking laws and digital information overload, Kaleel is making real connections with both people and well made, tangible objects associated with freedom and fun. Her paintings are indicative of the frustrations of a generation which is disenchanted with the propped-up promises of the American Dream. They seek connections to the world they were promised and escape from their fear of the future they face. For many, contemporary collecting is a statement about a quality of life rather than monetary value. Kaleel has visually captured the voices, the concerns and the hopes of a large segment of contemporary society.

The result of Kaleel’s process of research and contact is a growing series of large still lifes masterfully rendered in oil paint on wood panel, exhibiting skillful brush strokes and color interpretations. During this exhibition, Catherine will be in Munich, Germany as an official "Live Painter" for the Stroke Art Fair April 29th-May 4th and represented by the Von Pirpenstein Project.  

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