Kirsten Tradowsky

Artist Statement:

Americans possess objects for comfort, security, or validation within our modern day society.  Many rely on these objects whether it is a family camper, clothing or wedding rings to symbolize their placement in life.  Once purchased or passed on, the objects become used and no longer carry the same promise to the person who owns them, they are a hindrance and no longer bring one fulfillment. 
 
Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities for free classified advertisements. Anyone can post an ad and image of an object they have for sale.  Sometimes not much consideration is made when taking the shot so the images are overexposed or at an awkward angle adding an extra amount of alienation.

In Painting I take reference from adds of objects posted under the For Sale section.

I wish to reclaim these objects and promote them by emphasizing their used personal qualities.  These objects still possess personality and I have sympathy for them.

Like a forgotten family photo these objects once had a life and now they are being sent out into the world to be reclaimed and given a new life. By turning these online photos into an oil portrait I bring quality and validation back to these objects and to painting itself.

Kirsten Tradowsky was born in 1980 and grew up in an artist family in Kirtland Ohio.   In 2003, she received her BFA in Painting from the Cleveland Institute of Art.  Inspired by the culture of the city, she later moved to San Francisco and received her MFA in Painting and Drawing from The California College of the Arts in 2006.  She attended the Rose and Claire Residencies in Cipressaia, Italy and in Oakland California.  She was granted the Murphy and Cadogan Fellowship Award in the Fine Arts in 2005 and has had her paintings published in New American Paintings, Oxford American and Wallpaper Magazines.  Recently she designed the artwork for the published album Watercolor Day by pop artist Seth Swirsky and was in the show “This is My Education” at Art in General Gallery in New York City.  Her paintings are included in the collections of David Mac Farland, Seth Swirsky and Sonja Hoel Perkins to name a few.  She is currently represented by the Tinlark Gallery in Hollywood California and lives and works in San Francisco.