Hilary Harkness's cutaway paintings surveyed at Flag Art Foundation in 2013

From February 8 to May 18, 2013, the Flag Art Foundation in New York City presented a survey of Hilary Harkness's cutaway paintings, featuring fifteen works from 2004 to 2013. David Cohen reviewed the exhibition, reflecting on his earlier critiques published in the New York Sun. Harkness's intricate scenes depict miniature, all-female figures engaged in sado-masochistic activities within architectural or nautical settings, blending absurdist humor with cold eroticism. Her style draws comparisons to comic book artist Eric Stanton, Hieronymous Bosch, and mannerist traditions, utilizing isometric views to reveal interior spaces. Notable works include "Pearl Trader" (2006), set in Christie's auction house at Rockefeller Center, and "Gertrude Stein & Alice B. Toklas, Paris, October, 1939" (2007–08), which marked a shift toward larger-scale figures. The exhibition highlighted Harkness's narrative-driven approach, likened to literature or film, and her transition from crowded, repetitive compositions to more individualized characters. Earlier shows at Mary Boone Gallery in Chelsea and uptown locations showcased her drawings and panels, emphasizing her precise, cartoonish technique. Cohen speculated on cinematic adaptations, suggesting actors like Angelina Jolie for roles, while noting the artist's evolving focus on human foibles over inhuman gestures.