Galerie Eva Presenhuber is pleased to announce Karen Kilimnik’s first solo exhibition in Vienna in over a decade. Kilimnik was previously the subject of solo exhibitions in Vienna at the Belvedere in 2010, Intervention organized by Agnes Husslein-Arco, and Galerie Ballgasse in 1992.
At Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Vienna, Kilimnik presents a selection of her most recent works on canvas and paper. Detailed, finely-worked architectural drawings from 2020 are on view alongside oil paintings created between 2020 and 2022. Together they illuminate the scope and complexity of Kilimnik’s thematic world. For more than 40 years, Kilimnik has navigated an inexhaustible cosmos influenced by the traditions of Romantic painting, architecture, and landscape painting. Her work gives equal weight to a broad array of subject matter, finding inspiration in such diverse sources as Old Master paintings and television programs, fairy tales, films, literature, magazines, advertising, and store window displays.
Kilimnik's oeuvre explores themes of mythology and femininity, history and fiction.The detailed architectural drawings are reminiscent of the ambitious landscape depictions and architectural drawings made by artists and sightseers during the Grand Tour.
KAREN KILIMNIK
Walking tour in the Alps, the grand tour
2020
Acrylic, china marker, and colored pencil on paper
Sheet 57 x 89 cm / 22 1/2 x 35 in
Frame 88 x 119.5 x 3.5 cm / 34 5/8 x 47 x 1 3/8 in
KILIM48874
KAREN KILIMNIK
the otherworld on stage, the ducal palace theater, Italy in the renaissance
2020
Acrylic and china marker on paper
Sheet 57 x 89 cm / 22 1/2 x 35 in
Frame 95 x 126.5 x 5.5 cm / 37 3/8 x 49 3/4 x 2 1/8 in
KILIM48875
KAREN KILIMNIK
The theater stop on the trade route the silk road - the ancient world
2020
Acrylic and china marker on paper
Sheet 57 x 89 cm / 22 1/2 x 35 in
Frame 95 x 126.5 x 5.5 cm / 37 3/8 x 49 3/4 x 2 1/8 in
KILIM48873
KAREN KILIMNIK
The gods perched on the roof of the right
honorable marquis of Dorchester's house
2020
Acrylic and china marker on paper
Sheet 66 x 101.5 cm / 26 x 40 in
Frame 97 x 132 x 3.5 cm / 38 1/4 x 52 x 1 3/8 in
KILIM48880
KAREN KILIMNIK
the pastel country palace
2020
Acrylic and china marker on paper
Sheet 66 x 101.5 cm / 26 x 40 in
Frame 100 x 135 x 5 cm / 39 3/8 x 53 1/8 x 2 in
KILIM48881
KAREN KILIMNIK
Picadilly, London in 1807.
the quiet countryside with mansions -
great gentlemen's clubs of London
2020
China marker on paper
Sheet 57 x 89 cm / 22 1/2 x 35 in
Frame 88 x 119.5 x 3.5 cm / 34 5/8 x 47 x 1 3/8 in
KILIM48872
KAREN KILIMNIK
Boodles Club, London
2020
Acrylic and china marker on paper
Sheet 57 x 72.5 cm / 22 1/2 x 28 1/2 in
Frame 88 x 103 x 3.5 cm / 34 5/8 x 40 1/2 x 1 3/8 in
KILIM48871
KAREN KILIMNIK
the charmed Rathaus
2020-2021
Acrylic and china marker on paper
Sheet 76 x 101.5 cm / 30 x 40 in
Frame 114 x 139 x 5.5 cm / 44 7/8 x 54 3/4 x 2 1/8 in
KILIM48882
KAREN KILIMNIK
the Blue Kiosk, (a small pavillion), the oriental palace stage set,
the 18th century, Germany
2020
Acrylic, china marker, and colored pencil on paper
Sheet 57 x 89 cm / 22 1/2 x 35 in
Frame 91 x 122.5 x 5 cm / 35 7/8 x 48 1/4 x 2 in
KILIM48876
KAREN KILIMNIK
castle of the clan Macnab, Scotland.
Tours to the Twelfth century - castles, campaigns, conquest,
military architecture + medieval wales - Martin Randall Travel
2020
Acrylic and china marker on paper
Sheet 66 x 101.5 cm / 26 x 40 in
Frame 104 x 139 x 5.5 cm / 41 x 54 3/4 x 2 1/8 in
KILIM48879
KAREN KILIMNIK
the castle in Scotland the military tour,
home of the Laird & the clan. Martin Randall Travel Tours
2020
Acrylic, tempera, and china marker on paper
Sheet 66 x 101.5 cm / 26 x 40 in
Frame 97 x 132 x 3.5 cm / 38 1/4 x 52 x 1 3/8 in
KILIM48877
KAREN KILIMNIK
the mists of time, the castle in Scotland
2020
Acrylic and china marker on paper
Sheet 66 x 101.5 cm / 26 x 40 in
Frame 97 x 132 x 3.5 cm / 38 1/4 x 52 x 1 3/8 in
KILIM48878
KAREN KILIMNIK
Faberge Airlines flight path
2022
Water soluble oil color and acrylic gemstones on canvas
45.5 x 35.5 x 2.5 cm / 18 x 14 x 1 in
KILIM54563
KAREN KILIMNIK
the midlands, the elven stream
2022
Water soluble oil color on canvas
35.5 x 28 x 2.5 cm / 14 x 11 x 1 in
KILIM54560
KAREN KILIMNIK
the Spring zephyr
2021
Water soluble oil color on canvas
61 x 51 x 2.5 cm / 24 x 20 x 1 in
KILIM54553
KAREN KILIMNIK
waterlilies in the sky by Monet
2021
Water soluble oil color on canvas
61 x 51 x 2.5 cm / 24 x 20 x 1 in
KILIM54551
KAREN KILIMNIK
the cloud appreciation society meeting,
Little storping by the sea, England
2021
Water soluble oil color on canvas
ø 40.5 cm / ø 16 in
KILIM49332
Karen Kilimnik was born in 1955 in Philadelphia, PA, US, where she lives and works. Kilimnik's work is represented in major museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, US; the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA, US; and the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY, US. Kilimnik has been the subject of important solo exhibitions at institutions including the Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver, CO, US (2012); Belvedere, Vienna, AT (2010); Serpentine Gallery, London, UK; the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, PA, US; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL, US; the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, FL, US; Le Consortium, Dijon, FR (all 2007); the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Paris, FR (2006); Istituzione Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa, Venice, IT (2005); and the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, IE (2002). In 2018, Kilimnik participated in the 57th Carnegie International, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA, US; and has been featured in significant group exhibitions at institutions including Fondazione Prada, Venice, IT (2021); the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY, US (2016, 2008, 1993); Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, NL; MoMA PS1, New York, NY, US (both 2006); the Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, US (2005, 2001, 1999); Institute of Contemporary Art, London, UK (1997, 1992); and Secession, Vienna, AT (1994). In 2011, Kilimnik created the sets for the ballet Psyché, staged by the Ballet de l’Opéra national de Paris, Palais Garnier, Paris, FR.
