Abstraction as Metaphor: The Paintings of Kathie Shaw and Corey Postiglione

Painting, including abstraction, has been around too long to hold surprises, at least in the area of pictorial innovation, which was its hallmark historically.  This could be regarded as the current challenge for painting and for abstraction in particular.  Whereas painting continues unabated with no signs of disappearing, the question remains how to make it vital, not only in terms of pictorial seduction, but also in the area of content.  This is one of the particular dilemmas for abstraction.

The work of Corey Postiglione and Kathie Shaw is not only about itself and the sheer formal optical experience uncomplicated by any outside issues.  The use of abstract imagery readily embraces issues such as themes of globalization, not only for the individual, but for the society at large.  For these two artists the resultant dynamics of spiritual, societal, cultural, and environmental degradation is represented in the metaphoric language of abstract art.

How does the viewer decode this work?  Often meaning is revealed through titles or through some element of the composition.  The goal for both of these artists is to create work that is seductive enough to draw the viewer in, and hopefully to inspire the viewer enough to ponder the current complexities of socio-political and environmental realities.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Corey Postiglione

Since the 1970s Corey has exhibited professionally with over twenty solo exhibitions and numerous group shows both nationally and internationally. His critical writing has been published in Artforum, The New Art Examiner, Dialogue, and C-Magazine (Toronto). He is currently Professor Emeritus in the Department of Art and Art History at Columbia College Chicago, where he taught Art History and Critical Theory and studio for over 25 years. The artist is represented by the following galleries: Springboard Arts Chicago; Space Gallery, Denver, Colorado; and Westbrook Modern, Carmel CA.  More work can be seen on his website: coreypostiglione.com

Kathie Shaw

Kathie Shaw was born and raised in Pennsylvania. After receiving a BFA in Photography from Pennsylvania State University, she moved to Chicago where she received her MFA in Painting and Drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Eventually she also received a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Illinois Chicago. The impetus for her most recent work comes from current events. In 2020 Covid-19 provided the catalyst for a series of Crayola crayon drawings entitled Chaos. The year 2021 has resulted in a series entitled Sanctuary, a shift in emphasis toward a pure systemic geometry representing a drawing inward.

Artwork Shown (L to R): Corey Postiglione, Kathie Shaw