Caitlin Keogh's 'Loose Ankles' Exhibition at Bortolami Features Ornamental Paintings with Baroque Patterns

Caitlin Keogh presents paintings characterized by flat, baroque line-drawing patterns in acrylic on canvas at Bortolami gallery. Her work combines highly decorative elements with references to Christian Dior, aligning with the fashion house's focus on silhouette through mannequin-like figures. Some pieces incorporate S&M flourishes or dismemberments, creating a subversive decorative style that challenges conventional taste. The exhibition's title piece, 'Loose Ankles' from 2016, depicts a disembodied hand holding a lit cigarette emerging between two feet in yellow hush puppy heels, wrapped suggestively with knotted rope. Keogh's art generates an erotic charge while maintaining intellectual distance, resulting in a troublingly exciting experience. The show runs through October 29, 2016, at 520 West 20th Street in New York. An installation view of the exhibition is available, courtesy of the gallery.