Judith Simonian's 'Foreign Bodies' Exhibition at Edward Thorp Gallery Showcases Colorful Illusions

Judith Simonian presented her second solo exhibition, 'Foreign Bodies, Recent Paintings,' at Edward Thorp Gallery in New York City from March 12 to April 18, 2015. The show featured twenty acrylic paintings created over the previous two years, with sizes ranging from eight by ten inches to six by five feet. Simonian's work explores spatial puzzles through diverse themes, including optical-illusion still lifes, domestic interiors, travel scenes, and nature studies. In 'Snow Cone' (2014), a 46 x 64-inch piece, figure-ground elements create a cake wedge illusion, enhanced by a bright triangle of frosting and textured yellow background. Collage techniques contribute to visual effects in works like 'Fruit on Blue Table' (2013), while 'Patio Lounge Chairs' (2014) combines abstraction with imagery of a pool, goldfish, and hidden chairs in vermillion. 'Fleshy Pink Room' (2014), a six-foot-high painting, uses lighting and layering reminiscent of Jacopo Pontormo, with pink and green tones forming a barrier-like composition. According to the press release, Simonian transforms colorful scraps into near-collapse pictorial arrangements, reflecting the mind's ability to process sensory data. The exhibition highlights her intuitive approach to color and texture, teasing cognitive and sensory perception.