The Painter

1975

Acrylic, pencil, paper on canvas

206 × 155 cm

In this self-portrait, the black silhouette unfolds with confidence, a powerful affirmation of the independence championed by Kiki Kogelnik. The brush, wielded like a weapon, drips red paint between her legs, while her body and feet are dotted with bright bursts of colour. To her side a small male silhouette, which could be interpreted either as her son or a diminutive man, stands feet on the ground, contrasting with the painter's ascent to other dimensions. Executed in the throes of a marital crisis, this painting expresses a multifaceted identity: that of the woman, the mother and, most importantly, the artist.

Exhibitions