About, and an Art Talk on Color
Yvette Cohen's artistic vision transcends traditional boundaries, melding two-dimensional forms with sculptural depth. Through her boldly colored painting-sculptures, which mount flat on walls sans frames, Cohen transforms shapes into dynamic canvases, challenging viewers' perceptions of dimensionality. Often presented in diptychs, triptychs, or polyptychs, her works activate their surroundings, expanding spatial awareness beyond their physical confines.
A native of Egypt, Cohen's multicultural upbringing in Paris and Montreal imbued her artistic journey with diverse influences. She honed her craft at Concordia University in Montreal under the tutelage of Guido Molinari, earning a BFA. Upon relocating to New York City, she furthered her education at esteemed institutions like the Art Student's League, the School of Visual Arts, and the Whitney seminars. A stint at the Bob Blackburn Printmaking Workshop deepened her exploration of lithography.
Cohen's work has garnered attention through exhibitions at prominent galleries such as Frosch & Co. and Ki Smith Gallery in New York City. Amidst the challenges of the pandemic, her art found a virtual stage in online exhibitions hosted by renowned venues like Jason McCoy Gallery and the Hammond Museum. Noteworthy site-specific installations at Cassina and Basta Pasta in New York City underscore her versatility in engaging diverse spaces.
In 2018, Ellen Fagan of Odetta Gallery showcased Cohen's innovative painting-sculptures from the Cassina installation alongside her latest creations, revitalizing these dynamic works in a larger gallery context. Cohen's artistic legacy extends into private collections across New York, Switzerland, Taiwan, France, and Japan, where her evocative pieces continue to resonate with viewers worldwide.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Modernism Disrupted. I search the unpredictable, redefine geometry, and juxtapose disparate angles and parts. I draw and paint but think sculpturally. I position my flat boldly colored shaped painting-sculptures, paintings that look like sculptures, to convey infinite space. I create space out of flat surfaces. My shapes are on canvas under wooden dowels, or simply on canvas pieces.
I was born in Egypt and grew up in Paris and Montreal and now live and work in New York City. It’s the immigrant experience. From the rumblings of the earthquake in me, comes the need to create peace of mind and adventure; to create a shape of power, presence, and assertiveness, countered by meticulously controlled, well-behaved, geometric structures, and occasional playfulness.
With the idiosyncrasies in my work, I engage the viewer to consider multiple spatial possibilities beyond the actual dimensions of the artwork.
ATOA's 63rd Open Studio Three Woman Artists on Color featured Yvette Cohen. Organized by Monroe Hodder and moderated by Barry Kostrinsky. 6/28/2021