Artwork Description
Company
Dimensions: 20 x 32 x 3″
Year: 2012
Media: steel
Karen Yank – Company is composed of three elegantly understated parts. The largest and most prominent of the three, the semicircle, is one of the most commonly featured shapes in Yank’s work. The semicircle can represent several different themes within nature, and within this piece, it effectively represents the dome of the sky meeting the earth in the horizon line while simultaneously paying homage to Yank’s late mentor Agnes Martin. The three shapes interact minimally, but stand together as a very geometric piece. The inclusion of both the circle and two parallel shapes that resemble lines is representative of both the relationship between her and her teacher and the connection between the earth and the sky.
Nature is a common theme in Yank’s work, and she is often inspired by the picturesque landscapes of New Mexico, where she is based. Yank describes her work as representative of not only the nature itself, but rather the emotional impact that one feels when immersed in nature.
Yank primarily works in mixed metals to create her mesmerizing sculptures, citing their strength and durability. Many of Yank’s award-winning works are featured in museums and galleries throughout the United States. This, along with the large number of public works she has produced, primarily throughout the Southwest and very prominently in New Mexico, undoubtedly makes her the most established sculptor in the state of New Mexico.
Yank’s work will be featured in an exhibition called “Karen Yank and Agnes Martin: Student and Mentor” at Turner Carroll Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the summer of 2018.
Lillie Guo