Torqued Series 2023

The Torqued Series started in 1998 with the introduction of the ‘Torqued Paintings’. This was an investigation into the basic principles of painting – line, shape, colour and form – through the use of custom-built stretcher frames that ‘torque’ the painting surface. These 3-D canvases have formed the foundation of my practice and have been an integral part in establishing a unique language for overall ‘Torqued Series’ which now includes paintings on fiberglass panels as well as works that contour to corners. Another new development to the series has been the introduction of a hexagon frame with no perpendicular sides, creating a new and dynamic shape with resulting torqued surface. 

The works on display at David Klein Gallery in Birmingham showcase the newest iterations of the Torqued Painting series. The idea for these new frames had been simmering for a few years and were first realized in a set of small prototypes in mid 2022 and have now been expanded in size. These works hark back to the original square-shaped frames yet this time the frame sides are slanted at obtuse and acute angles giving the works a new perceptive effect. The angles remain constant throughout the series as a way to connect the work, literally and figuratively. A couple of the pieces are diptychs and connect at singular points, talking to each other, while others are individual and visually connected through the physical design of the pieces as well as the elements of line, shape and colour. I see these works as being in transition, experimental in a way, as I explore new elements and colour arrangements. A few of these paintings have emerged from a series of drawings completed over the past few months, as a way to work through ideas before committing to a painting. This evolution is not without its own challenges. Not all ideas work, so it’s important to have an exercise of experimentation and a critical eye to make sense of the process and keep the work progressing. Through big steps or small steps, that’s always the important part of my practice – to keep evolving and exploring new ideas and methods in which to pursue my aesthetic language.