Barbara Takenaga's 'Outset' Exhibition at DC Moore Gallery Explores New Artistic Territory

Barbara Takenaga's exhibition titled 'Outset' was held at DC Moore Gallery in New York City from September 6 to October 6, 2018, marking her fifth showcase with the venue. This new body of work moves away from her usual themes, eliminating horizon lines and references to Nebraska landscapes. Her color scheme of steel blue-gray features smooth surfaces with hints of iridescence and fuchsia. Among the 2018 pieces are 'Aeaea' and 'Hello,' highlighting bold black-centered pours and dynamic figure-ground interactions. 'Manifold 5,' a five-panel artwork, conveys a sense of rupture with a phallic ellipse that divides an empty space. Takenaga's influences include Japanese prints, Indian painting, and artists such as Sol Lewitt. She studied at the University of Colorado, Boulder, in the mid-1970s during the Criss-Cross collective's active period.