I combine historical building materials with modern mediums to create contemporary texture paintings that reflect on the seamless integration of old traditions with modern innovation.
Slaked lime putty, marble powder and hide glue combine to cause an unforeseeable chemistry reaction on canvas, creating crevices, tears and cracks. Nature serves as a constant wellspring of inspiration, particularly rugged terrain and stone formations. To this seemingly desolate landscape structure I add many layers of earth pigments, acrylic paint and ink to add depth and character. Mark-making tools such as watercolor pencils, coal, chalk and wax are employed in the final stages to finish my paintings. My process is both intuitive and methodical, a delicate balance between embracing the unexpected and adhering to precision, mirroring the complexities of the human experience.
Biography
Kira Krell, born in 1973 in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany, is currently based in Townsend, Delaware, USA. Her formative years as a missionary in South Africa, England, Wales, Netherlands, Germany, and the USA have deeply influenced her work. Living among diverse communities, she immersed herself in their languages, traditions, and work ethics. These experiences form the foundation of her artistic expression.
She debuted at the Bethany Beach Art Festival in 2023, unveiling her collagen collection. In the same year, her participation in the group exhibition "Color my World" at the Newar Art Alliance in Delaware featured her intonaco painting "Claws." The upcoming solo show, "Beauty in Brokenness," at the Terry Forman Gallery in Newark, Delaware, from August 2024 to October2024, promises to be a testament to her evolving artistic narrative. As a member of the Rohoboth Art League and the Newark Art Alliance, Kira Krell has established her presence in the artistic community. Her works have found homes in collections in Europe and the USA, solidifying her international presence.
