Telling Tales

The figure is one of the classic images in paintings, ranging from simple sketches that hone in on the anatomy to large-scale narratives that are relatable or otherworldly. In the April exhibition, The Art of the Figure, at RJD Gallery in Bridgehampton, New York, four artists— Aneka Ingold, Daniela Werneck, Geoffrey Laurence and Tor-Arne Moen—will present artwork that often melds the classic and contemporary. The pieces will dive into age-old techniques, while the stories and themes are often rooted in today’s world.

Werneck’s paintings in the show, such as Crown and Crows and I am More Than My Story, reflect a subject that is personal for the artist. “For the past few years, children in foster care have been the main inspiration for many of my paintings. After having an 11-year-old foster girl placed in my home, I experienced a very difficult and delicate moment in my life that opened my eyes to see that the world of these children is even more empty and harder than I imagined,” she says. Symbols in the paintings show the loneliness and confusion, as well as the hope and dreams these children have.

The artist adds, “Although I was inspired by these children my paintings can easily speak to the viewer as their own life experience. Who never felt alone, confused or less important in life? We all come through difficult moments and we all have dreams and hope.”