What is attractive to you about Maria Lassnig’s work?

What attracts me about Maria Lassnig’s work, being a painter myself, is first and foremost the medium. She is a painter who approaches the canvas without having an image or idea. She transfers the passion from within herself to the canvas with no preconceived idea of what may come out. If she doesn’t feel an arm or another part of the body she will not paint it. I truly hope that I will paint on the same level as Maria is doing at the age of almost 90 years old.  For me that is so very inspiring.

Lassnig uses white space or light colors as background/negative space; your paintings are very dark with a great deal of shadowy depth. Yet there are many similarities in content: can you reflect on that?

I think once again the similarities are the expression of passion. We both work from within and transfer an inner feeling to the canvas without control. The same is true of our color selections:  they reflect a mood or a feeling and are free-flowing, and are not necessarily a conscious choice we make.  And what do you think the similarities are?

How long have you been an artist?

Depends how you define to be an artist! I have dedicated myself as long as I can remember to be an artist. There is almost no choice…there is so much that wants to be painted.

How long have you been a CAC member?

We came in July 2000 directly from the Netherlands to Cincinnati.  Shortly after that I became a member of CAC and have been one ever since.

Best CAC moment/memory?

I have had many memorable times at CAC, but perhaps the one that comes to mind is the Opening night of the new Zaha Hadid building.  The crowds were enormous, the energy was great, and the building has created so much more potential for CAC.

Contact: Joeliene Magoto | Development Director | 513.345.8411 | jmagoto@contemporaryartscenter.org