Eva Presenhuber is pleased to announce Early Drawings 1976 – 1998, a solo exhibition by Karen Kilimnik at the New York space, presented jointly with Sprüth Magers in London.
The show features the artist’s own rich and varied selection of over 50 previously unseen early works on paper. Detailed, finely-worked pastel drawings created between 1976 and 1998 are presented, along with ink drawings and other work from that same period; together they illuminate the scope, complexity, and virtuosity of Kilimnik’s thematic world.
For more than 40 years, Kilimnik has navigated an inexhaustible cosmos influenced by the traditions of Romantic painting, portraiture, and landscape painting. Her work gives equal weight to a broad array of subject matter, finding inspiration in such diverse sources as popular culture and fairy tales, Old Master paintings and television programs, films, literature, magazines, advertising, as well as window displays. The result dissolves the distinctions between “high” and “low” culture. This creative mixture appears in some of Kilimnik’s earliest output: after studying art and architecture in Philadelphia, the artist exhibited a series of genre-bending constellations in the mid-1980s and early 1990s; assembled works included paintings, photographs, drawings, sculptures, and films. Her oeuvre explores themes of mythology and femininity, history and fiction.
Especially Kilimnik’s drawings and collages often emerge from general observation and contemplation. Exemplifying that approach is concord delirium race car driver – vrooom! (1982), a pastel, charcoal, and ink on paper piece inspired by a Vogue advertisement. Drawings and collages based on magazine adverts run throughout the artist's oeuvre and appear in the exhibition at various intervals, for example, the drawings based on adverts for Rémy Martin Cognac or a Piaget watch. concord delirium race car driver – vrooom! evokes a feeling of dizziness one might experience when driving a car around the roundabout of the Place de la Concorde in Paris or on a race car track or mountain pass. Kilimnik, whose juvenile career considerations included becoming a race car driver, uses here an advertisement from the world of popular culture as a template and overlays it with her own imagination.
The accompanying exhibition at Sprüth Magers in London runs from April 8 to May 21, 2022.
A catalogue for both shows will be published by Edition Patrick Frey.
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1988
Pastel on paper
Sheet 65 x 50 cm / 25 5/8 x 19 3/4 in
Frame 84.5 x 69 x 5 cm / 33 1/4 x 27 1/4 x 2 in
KILIM51386
Installation view, Karen Kilimnik, Early Drawings 1976 – 1998, Eva Presenhuber, New York, 2022
KAREN KILIMNIK
sports cars
1982
Pastel and ink on paper
Sheet 29.5 x 22.5 cm / 11 5/8 x 8 7/8 in
Frame 48.5 x 41.5 x 4 cm / 19 x 16 1/4 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50720
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1982
Pastel and ink on paper
Sheet 45.5 x 30.5 cm / 18 x 12 in
Frame 66.5 x 51.5 x 4 cm / 26 1/8 x 20 1/4 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50707
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1982
Pastel and ink on paper
Sheet 28 x 21.5 cm / 11 x 8 1/2 in
Frame 49 x 42.5 x 4 cm / 19 1/4 x 16 3/4 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50715
KAREN KILIMNIK
Nº 37
1981
Ink on paper
Sheet 22.5 x 25 cm / 8 7/8 x 9 3/4 in
Frame 48.5 x 51 x 4 cm / 19 1/8 x 20 1/8 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM51086
KAREN KILIMNIK
what do you mean it's too small? are you saying I'm fat?
2005
Artificial leaves, artificial branches, foam bird, metal wire, feathers, acrylic
9 x 15 x 12 cm / 3 1/2 x 6 x 4 3/4 in
KILIM49946
Installation view, Karen Kilimnik, Early Drawings 1976 – 1998, Eva Presenhuber, New York, 2022
KAREN KILIMNIK
cat burglars club meeting
1977
Ink and watercolor on paper
Sheet 28 x 21.5 cm / 11 x 8 1/2 in
Frame 52 x 45.5 x 4 cm / 20 1/2 x 18 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50736
KAREN KILIMNIK
The Great Charles Addams
1982
Ink on paper
Sheet 56 x 42.5 cm / 22 x 16 3/4 in
Frame 77 x 63.5 x 4.5 cm / 30 3/8 x 25 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM51250
KAREN KILIMNIK
Halloween
1985
Crayon on paper
Sheet 44.5 x 59.5 cm / 17 1/2 x 23 1/2 in
Frame 65.5 x 80 x 4 cm / 25 3/4 x 31 1/2 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50693
Installation view, Karen Kilimnik, Early Drawings 1976 – 1998, Eva Presenhuber, New York, 2022
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1982
Pastel on paper
Sheet 28 x 21.5 cm / 11 x 8 1/2 in
Frame 47 x 40 x 4 cm / 18 1/2 x 15 3/4 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50726
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1982
Ink and watercolor on paper
Sheet 22 x 30 cm / 8 3/4 x 11 3/4 in
Frame 41.5 x 48.5 x 4 cm / 16 3/8 x 19 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM51039
KAREN KILIMNIK
bats in the belfry
1988
Pastel and crayon on paper
Sheet 89 x 59 cm / 35 x 23 1/8 in
Frame 110 x 79.5 x 6.5 cm / 43 1/4 x 31 1/4 x 2 1/2 in
KILIM50664
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1990
Pastel and crayon on paper
Sheet 92.5 x 63.5 cm / 36 1/2 x 25 in
Frame 113.5 x 84.5 x 6.5 cm / 44 3/4 x 33 1/4 x 2 1/2 in
KILIM50669
KAREN KILIMNIK
is that Morticia and Uncle Fester? or what!
1990
Crayon on paper
Sheet 92.5 x 63.5 cm / 36 1/2 x 25 in
Frame 113.5 x 84.5 x 6.5 cm / 44 3/4 x 33 1/4 x 2 1/2 in
KILIM50684
KAREN KILIMNIK
Athena, goddess of the sea, at the temple of Neptune
1987
Pastel and crayon on paper
Sheet 43 x 28 cm / 17 x 11 in
Frame 64 x 49 x 4 cm / 25 1/4 x 19 1/4 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50737
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1982
Pastel and ink on paper
Sheet 29.5 x 22.5 cm / 11 5/8 x 8 7/8 in
Frame 55 x 48.5 x 4 cm / 21 3/4 x 19 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50711
KAREN KILIMNIK
Iris, goddess of the sea
1987
Pastel and crayon on paper
Sheet 43 x 28 cm / 17 x 11 in
Frame 64 x 49 x 4 cm / 25 1/4 x 19 1/4 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50738
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1982
Pastel, charcoal, and ink on paper
Sheet 30.5 x 23 cm / 12 x 9 in
Frame 49.5 x 42 x 4 cm / 19 1/2 x 16 1/2 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50719
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1982
Pastel and ink on paper
Sheet 23 x 15 cm / 9 x 6 in
Frame 47 x 38.5 x 4 cm / 18 1/2 x 15 1/4 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM51022
KAREN KILIMNIK
Versailles
1986
Pastel and crayon on paper
Sheet 28 x 43 cm / 11 x 17 in
Frame 49 x 64 x 4 cm / 19 1/4 x 25 1/4 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM51141
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1982
Acrylic, ink, and watercolor on paper
Sheet 29.5 x 22.5 cm / 11 5/8 x 8 7/8 in
Frame 50 x 43 x 4 cm / 19 3/4 x 17 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM51014
KAREN KILIMNIK
a giant at the seashore
1982
Pastel and ink on paper
Sheet 29.5 x 22.5 cm / 11 5/8 x 8 7/8 in
Frame 48.5 x 41.5 x 4 cm / 19 1/8 x 16 1/4 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM51028
KAREN KILIMNIK
concord delirium race car driver - vrooom!
1982
Pastel, charcoal, and ink on paper
Sheet 30.5 x 23 cm / 12 x 9 in
Frame 56.5 x 49 x 4 cm / 22 1/4 x 19 1/4 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM51084
KAREN KILIMNIK
Games
1982
Ink and watercolor on paper
Sheet 28 x 21.5 cm / 11 x 8 1/2 in
Frame 47 x 40.5 x 4 cm / 18 1/2 x 16 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM51030
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1982
Ink and charcoal on paper
Sheet 25.5 x 18 cm / 10 x 7 in
Frame 44.5 x 37 x 4 cm / 17 1/2 x 14 1/2 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM51070
KAREN KILIMNIK
the little magpie
2005
Artificial branches, costume jewelry
5 x 15 x 9 cm / 2 x 6 x 3 1/2 in
KILIM49948
KAREN KILIMNIK
little white berry nest
2005 Artificial leaves and branches, feathers, costume jewelry
4.5 x 16 x 10 cm / 1 3/4 x 6 1/4 x 4 in
KILIM49947
Installation view, Karen Kilimnik, Early Drawings 1976 – 1998, Eva Presenhuber, New York, 2022
KAREN KILIMNIK
Nabila Kaschoggi 25, playing a terrorist
1987
Pastel and crayon on paper
Sheet 89 x 59 cm / 35 x 23 1/8 in
Frame 110 x 79.5 x 6.5 cm / 43 1/4 x 31 3/8 x 2 1/2 in
KILIM52720
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1988
Pastel and crayon on paper
Sheet 89 x 58.5 cm / 35 x 23 in
Frame 110 x 79.5 x 6.5 cm / 43 1/4 x 31 1/4 x 2 1/2 in
KILIM51285
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1988
Crayon on paper
Sheet 89 x 58.5 cm / 35 x 23 in
Frame 110 x 79.5 x 6.5 cm / 43 1/4 x 31 1/4 x 2 1/2 in
KILIM51332
KAREN KILIMNIK
birthday party, pet pony horse
1989
Crayon on paper
Sheet 89 x 59 cm / 35 x 23 1/8 in
Frame 110 x 79.5 x 6.5 cm / 43 1/4 x 31 3/8 x 2 1/2 in
KILIM50665
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1988
Pastel and crayon on paper
Sheet 89 x 58.5 cm / 35 x 23 in
Frame 110 x 79.5 x 6.5 cm / 43 1/4 x 31 1/4 x 2 1/2 in
KILIM51342
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1989
Acrylic and crayon on paper
Sheet 89 x 59 cm / 35 x 23 1/8 in
Frame 110 x 79.5 x 4 cm / 43 1/4 x 31 3/8 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50676
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1990
Acrylic and crayon on paper
Sheet 89 x 59 cm / 35 x 23 1/8 in
Frame 110 x 79.5 x 6.5 cm / 43 1/4 x 31 3/8 x 2 1/2 in
KILIM52718
KAREN KILIMNIK
frequent flier airplane travel
the fun of travel
1991
Crayon on paper
Sheet 89 x 59 cm / 35 x 23 1/8 in
Frame 110 x 79.5 x 6.5 cm / 43 1/4 x 31 3/8 x 2 1/2 in
KILIM50668
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1991
Pastel and crayon on paper
Sheet 89 x 59 cm / 35 x 23 1/8 in
Frame 110 x 79.5 x 6.5 cm / 43 1/4 x 31 3/8 x 2 1/2 in
KILIM52721
Installation view, Karen Kilimnik, Early Drawings 1976 – 1998, Eva Presenhuber, New York, 2022
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1981
Ink, acrylic, and watercolor on glossy paper
Sheet 45.5 x 30.5 cm / 18 x 12 in
Frame 66.5 x 51.5 x 4 cm / 26 1/4 x 20 1/4 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50744
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1981
Ink on glossy paper
Sheet 45.5 x 30.5 cm / 18 x 12 in
Frame 66.5 x 51.5 x 4 cm / 26 1/4 x 20 1/4 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50742
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1982
Pastel and charcoal on paper
Sheet 58.5 x 89 cm / 23 x 35 in
Frame 79.5 x 110 x 6.5 cm / 31 1/4 x 43 1/4 x 2 1/2 in
KILIM51313
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1990
Pastel and crayon on paper
Sheet 92.5 x 63.5 cm / 36 1/2 x 25 in
Frame 113.5 x 84.5 x 6.5 cm / 44 3/4 x 33 1/4 x 2 1/2 in
KILIM50670
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1979
Ink and watercolor on paper
Sheet 35.5 x 28 cm / 14 x 11 in
Frame 54.5 x 47 x 4 cm / 21 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM51091
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1976
Ink and watercolor on paper
Sheet 21.5 x 28 cm / 8 1/2 x 11 in
Frame 40.5 x 47 x 4 cm / 16 x 18 1/2 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50714
KAREN KILIMNIK
Jon Jon, discotheque brawl
1981
Ink and watercolor on paper
Sheet 65 x 48.5 cm / 25 5/8 x 19 in
Frame 86.5 x 69 x 5 cm / 34 x 27 1/4 x 2 in
KILIM51246
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1982
Ink on paper
Sheet 29.5 x 22.5 cm / 11 5/8 x 8 7/8 in
Frame 48.5 x 41.5 x 4 cm / 19 1/8 x 16 3/8 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM51031
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1982
Pastel and ink on paper
Sheet 30.5 x 23 cm / 12 x 9 in
Frame 50.5 x 42 x 4 cm / 19 7/8 x 16 1/2 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50696
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1982
Pastel, charcoal, watercolor, and ink on paper
Sheet 30.5 x 58.5 cm / 12 x 23 in
Frame 51.5 x 79.5 x 4 cm / 20 1/4 x 31 1/4 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50697
KAREN KILIMNIK
Lancaster
1993
Pastel and charcoal on paper
Sheet 45.5 x 30.5 cm / 18 x 12 in
Frame 67 x 51.5 x 5 cm / 26 3/8 x 20 1/4 x 2 in
KILIM51277
KAREN KILIMNIK
medusa
1985
Pastel on paper
Sheet 44.5 x 59 cm / 17 1/2 x 23 1/4 in
Frame 65.5 x 80 x 4 cm / 25 7/8 x 31 1/2 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50691
KAREN KILIMNIK
Spying in Berlin
1988
Crayon on paper
Sheet 89 x 58.5 cm / 35 x 23 in
Frame 110 x 79.5 x 6.5 cm / 43 1/4 x 31 1/4 x 2 1/2 in
KILIM51363
KAREN KILIMNIK
party perfume, Paris
1986
Pastel and crayon on paper
Sheet 28 x 43 cm / 11 x 17 in
Frame 49 x 64 x 4 cm / 19 1/4 x 25 1/4 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50741
KAREN KILIMNIK
snow queen
1982
Pastel and charcoal on paper
Sheet 35.5 x 28 cm / 14 x 11 in
Frame 54.5 x 47 x 4 cm / 21 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM51125
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1982
Pastel and ink on paper
Sheet 21.5 x 28 cm / 8 1/2 x 11 in
Frame 40.5 x 47 x 4 cm / 16 x 18 1/2 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM51029
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1982
Pastel and crayon on paper
Sheet 58.5 x 89 cm / 23 x 35 in
Frame 79.5 x 110 x 6.5 cm / 31 1/4 x 43 1/4 x 2 1/2 in
KILIM51314
KAREN KILIMNIK
garden finials
1993
Crayon on paper
Sheet 89 x 57 cm / 35 x 22 1/2 in
Frame 110 x 78 x 6.5 cm / 43 1/4 x 30 3/4 x 2 1/2 in
KILIM50661
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1986
Crayon on paper
Sheet 43 x 28 cm / 17 x 11 in
Frame 64 x 49 x 4 cm / 25 1/4 x 19 1/4 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM50739
KAREN KILIMNIK
freemasons hat
1987
Pastel and crayon on paper
Sheet 73.5 x 59 cm / 29 x 23 1/8 in
Frame 94.5 x 79.5 x 5 cm / 37 1/4 x 31 1/4 x 2 in
KILIM52719
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1983
Crayon and watercolor on paper
Sheet 43 x 58.5 cm / 17 x 23 in
Frame 64 x 79.5 x 5 cm / 25 1/4 x 31 1/4 x 2 in
KILIM51249
KAREN KILIMNIK
hair salon
1982
Ink on paper
Sheet 28 x 21.5 cm / 11 x 8 1/2 in
Frame 47 x 40.5 x 4 cm / 18 1/2 x 16 x 1 5/8 in
KILIM51082
KAREN KILIMNIK
Mallomars
1995
Acrylic and crayon on paper
Sheet 101.5 x 66 cm / 40 x 26 in
Frame 122.5 x 87 x 6.5 cm / 48 1/4 x 34 1/4 x 2 1/2 in
KILIM52723
KAREN KILIMNIK
Untitled
1992
Acrylic and crayon on paper
Sheet 89 x 58.5 cm / 35 x 23 in
Frame 110 x 79.5 x 6.5 cm / 43 1/4 x 31 1/4 x 2 1/2 in
KILIM51305
