If you’re strolling along the streets of the Lower East Side this weekend, be sure to catch the last days of artist Lily Ludlow’s most recent exhibition at The Canada Gallery titled Lily Ludlow: Ten for Aidas. Ludlow’s inspiration for the exhibition’s titled came from the persuasion of close friend and fellow artist Aidas Bareikis to “just make ten paintings.” The paintings that Ludlow created for this show revolve around themes of faith, love, and mysticism. She communicates the importance of human relationships through careful and precise use of composition and color.
Originating on acrylic and graphite on canvas, Ludlow’s subjects are perfectly shaped outlines of nude figures, many of which are groups of people, or even just one person, posed in elaborate positions. These range from bold images of couples embracing, to groups of people sleeping in heaps, to a nude woman sitting in a cross-legged position. In outlining these figures, Ludlow makes them appear to be crystallized in art deco-like geometric shapes such as arches and cylinders.
Similar to artist Marie Laurencin’s proto-cubist portraits of women, Ludlow’s portraits of women are shown in a soft, abstract light. She illustrates women’s honest expressions by portraying them as goddesses and highlighting raw, honest feminine expression and beauty. Ludlow is a curator, painter and filmmaker who has been a frequent contributor to The Canada Gallery.
Ludlow grew up in Seattle, studied literature and poetry at Shakespeare and Co. in Paris, and has even traveled to Morocco in hopes of meeting Paul Bowles. She lives and works in Port Chester, New York. At The Canada Gallery (55 Chrystie St.) through Dec. 4. The gallery is open from Wednesday through Sunday from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m.
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