OUR HOUSE / YOUR WORLD opening reception, House of Waves, Newport, RI
Statement
My work builds perception-altering environments: elastic worlds where eyes hover, checkerboards liquefy, and portals pulse with color. Drawing from recurring forms, pop iconography, and graphic line, I construct living spaces that feel playful and metaphysical. The images act as visual thresholds that invite viewers into a heightened, saturated state of looking.
Bio
Antonietta Kies is from Durham, NH, where she developed an interest in surrealism at the age of 8 upon finding a book of Dalí, her favorite painter, in her parents' bedroom. As a child, she was most drawn to the psychedelic animations of yesteryear, including "Pink Elephants On Parade" from Disney's 1941 film "Dumbo", and 70s-infused groovy shorts from Sesame Street like "Pinball Twelve Count". The weird, colorful worlds captivated her, and just made sense. She also has a lifelong interest in realism and detailed rendering styles, so alongside mind-expanding interests she still enjoys drawing and painting the actual visible world. But... not as much. At some point, she earned a Master of Fine Art from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Her latest psychedelic series, triggered by an obsession with generating colorful fractals in her 30s, has already endured for several years and threatens to dominate her future. In a good way.
Education
M.F.A., Painting and drawing, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (2013)
B.A., Computer Science, Wesleyan University. Concentrations in studio art and music. (2006)