WorkArt & Culture

Artist Danielle Klebes paints colourful characters caught in a state of flux

American artist Danielle Klebes loves to paint people who are in a state of flux, captured in moments of uncertainty and isolation, who are close in proximity but emotionally distant.

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Three figures stand on a sandy beach with driftwood beneath an overhanging teal and turquoise abstract canopy, with ocean and sky beyond

"They are positioned in liminal natural environments," explains Danielle. "The sun is setting or storms are approaching – with no clear entrance or exit pathway. There is a sense of the in between without a clear narrative regarding what comes next.

"In my compositions, I highlight the often-disconnected relationship between the individual and the groups they belong to. I employ a cool, colourful, and unnatural palette to highlight disconnection and lack of intimacy. I take liberty in creating the environments for my figures, sometimes completely removing them, sometimes abstracting them, and sometimes adding surreal elements. The paintings are not specifically narrative, but they include pictorial clues to the experience of the subjects."

Danielle is set to graduate with an MFA in Visual Arts from Lesley University College of Art and Design this June, before heading to Croatia to attend an art workshop. Her paintings have been featured in exhibitions across America, and have won Best in Show at the Harrisburg Art Association annual figure show for three years in a row. Find out more about her at danielleklebes.com.

Four figures and a small dog stand in a forest of tall, slender trees under a pink sky, with warm earth tones below, rendered in cool, unnatural colours suggesting emotional distance
Shirtless boxer in red gloves crouches in fighting stance while spectators in colourful clothing watch from behind in a forest clearing under stormy skies
Two shirtless figures sit separately in a vibrant, overgrown forest with colourful striped trees and tropical plants, appearing emotionally distant despite their proximity
Group of young people gathered indoors under purple and pink lighting, appearing emotionally distant despite their close proximity
Four figures and a dog gather around a blue car in a wooded setting, appearing emotionally distant despite their physical proximity
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