Paul Carey Kent Reviews Karla Black's Sculptural Practice

Paul Carey Kent examines the work of artist Karla Black, whose sculptural practice employs unconventional materials like cellophane, plaster powder, and cosmetics. Black creates large-scale, ephemeral installations that challenge traditional notions of sculpture through their delicate, often precarious compositions. Her work explores themes of materiality, femininity, and the boundaries between art and everyday objects. The review analyzes Black's approach to form and her engagement with the physical properties of her chosen substances. Black's sculptures are noted for their sensory appeal and their temporary, site-responsive nature. The artist's methodology involves a direct, hands-on manipulation of materials, resulting in works that exist in a state of potential collapse. This analysis situates Black within contemporary discussions of post-minimalism and process-based art. The review was published on November 7, 2014, on the artcritical platform.