Emma Kalff is intrigued by the surreal state of memories. “How is it that sometimes we can’t recall who was in a room, but we can remember what the carpet looked like?,” she asks. “Or we can remember exactly what someone said, but have no idea where we heard it?” In her oil paintings, Kalff subtly layers different scenes over one another to explore the strange displacement of memory.
Emma Kalff, Deep Summer, oil on panel, 12 x 12"
She often starts with a plein air painting, takes it back into the studio and uses it as a jumping-off point. She then begins layering, adding figures or objects to the composition until it reaches a point of subtle surrealism. Her current series, Personal Twilight, explores this theme against the moody, liminal beauty of dusk. She uses muted tones to create a sense of stillness, inviting viewers to pause and reflect on the impermanence of time and memory.
Emma Kalff, Perennial Adolescent, oil on panel, 45 x 48"
Kalff thinks of painting as a service, with the goal being to provide the viewer with an emotional experience. More of her work can be seen at Abend Gallery in Denver, Colorado. —
Want to See More?
emma@emmakalff.com
www.emmakalff.com
Represented by Abend Gallery
1261 Delaware Street, Suite 2 | Denver, CO 80204
(303) 355-0950 | www.abendgallery.com
Instagram: @emmakalff
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