Charline von Heyl

Born 1960 in Mainz, Germany

Lives and works in New York and Marfa

Charline von Heyl’s abstract paintings, drawings and collages are endlessly layered, enigmatic visual experiences filled with surprising juxtapositions and interactions. Her work resolutely strives against maintaining a cohesive narrative or signature style, but instead is fearless in its formal diversity. It requires active perception and participation to take in her bold lines and gestures, and abstract shapes and patterns. Her configurations possess a unique dynamism and energy, imbued with flashes of humour but simultaneously unafraid of poetic depth and pathos.

Embodied in von Heyl’s work are series of experiences and emotions, often opposing to create an intriguing sense of contradiction and tension. They impart to the viewer an unpredictable chain of associations and subtle references. Her canvases are as thoughtful and cerebral as they are aesthetically balanced, with their bold but harmonious colour palettes and their almost printed, two-dimensional quality.