Ellen Berkenblit's Radical Shift in Painting Technique at Anton Kern Gallery Show

In September 2003, Ellen Berkenblit unveiled seven new paintings and eighteen drawings at the Anton Kern Gallery in New York, showcasing a notable shift from her earlier expressionist approach. She replaced traditional brush strokes with spray paint and transitioned from darker hues to pastel colors on metal latticework, aligning her style more closely with 1980s graffiti art. Her drawings continued to reflect her diarist tendencies, delving into themes of intimacy, embarrassment, playfulness, and anger. While some viewers initially resisted this change, a critic acknowledged her artistic evolution after nearly ten years. The exhibition's challenging viewing conditions emphasized her recurring motifs, such as an irate kitten, marking a pivotal moment in Berkenblit’s artistic journey.