18 april 2023, Flor Linckens
The energetic portraits of Christina Zimpel
Until 29 April, Schönfeld Gallery in Brussels presents a series of new portraits by the Australian artist Christina Zimpel. The Brooklyn-based artist already had a full-fledged career before starting as an independent artist: after studying graphic design at Curtin University in Australia, she worked as an art director for Australian and American Vogue for several years.
Zimpel had an interest in art from an early age, but it was her son (who similarly works as a painter) who stimulated her to explore her artistic side in a professional way. She published a few photos of her work on her Instagram account and that's when the ball started rolling. Her work has since been exhibited worldwide.
Christina Zimpel, Pink Collar, 2023, Schönfeld Gallery
Zimpel's paintings mostly depict women and are inspired by everyday observations, her background in fashion and design, her childhood in Australia, her mother's Hungarian background, her grandmother's garden, her own garden in Brooklyn, punk, historical hairstyles and the work of artists such as Philip Guston, Henri Matisse, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Diane Arbus, Peter Doig, Louise Bourgeois and the Fauvists.
The latter is reflected, for example, in Zimpel's use of colour. But where the Fauvists liked to combine complementary colours for an unnatural effect, Zimpel's work is characterised by seemingly more eclectic colour combinations. For example, pink is a recurring colour, but that is certainly not the lovely and timid kind of pink, but rather the rebellious, fluorescent and punky kind. It results in energetic, powerful and exciting portraits that are marked by simplified, flat and abstracted shapes.
Christina Zimpel, Goddess, 2023, Schönfeld Gallery
In an interview with Taittinger, Zimpel noted: “What attracts me to portraits is getting into the model’s mind. I try to find out every person’s truth, whether it’s in a look or a tiny gesture.”
In the exhibition in Schönfeld Gallery, the artist also presents a series of black and white works on paper. Incidentally, that is how her works generally come about: even her digital works are usually born in the analogue.
Zippel has collaborated with brands such as Michael Kors, Maison Kitsuné, Carven and Nina Ricci. Among other things, she made her own variation on the famous Kitsuné fox. Her work has appeared in publications like Vanity Fair, the US, UK, Australian and Spanish Vogue, the New York Times, Architectural Digest, Allure Magazine, Papier Magazine and the Sydney Morning Herald. She also made a series of thirty portraits of the nominees and honorees of the Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards, which were presented at the Brooklyn Museum.
Christina Zimpel, Mac #2, 2023, Schönfeld Gallery
