Katherine Bradford's 2012 Superman Paintings at Edward Thorp Gallery Revisited

Katherine Bradford's exhibit, called 'New Work', ran at Edward Thorp Gallery from April 19 to June 9, 2012. Situated at 210 Eleventh Avenue on the 6th floor, between 24th and 25th streets in New York City, the show included pieces featuring Superman and ocean liners. Unlike Joyce Pensato's Batman display at Frederick Petzel Gallery earlier that January, Bradford depicted Superman with softer features and a relaxed suit, making him more relatable. The collection showcased works like 'Superman Responds' (2011), 'Lady Liberty' (2011), a collage about Amelia Earhart (2011-12), 'S.O.S' (2012), and 'New Men' (2011), blending naïve and abstract elements while keeping anatomical precision. Bradford, who started painting later in life, drew in a younger crowd, highlighted by her well-attended lecture at the New York Studio School, where she discussed themes of vulnerability and personal symbolism.