Katherine Bernhardt St. Louis, Missouri, b. 1975
Calvin Klein swimwear, 2006
Acrylic on canvas
244 x 183 x 4 cm
96 x 72 x 1 5/8 in
96 x 72 x 1 5/8 in
© 2006 Katherine Bernhardt / Courtesy Fundación AMMA
Photo: Alejandro Paez
Further images
A large-format portrait of a woman in a bikini. The piece stands out for the diagonal positioning of the figure, who appears to be falling into the void of the dark background and conveys a certain unease that contrasts with the lightheartedness typically associated with clothing designed for outdoor recreation.
Bernhardt paints landscapes, still lifes, figures and objects from popular culture, and fantastical portraits of women—sometimes models and celebrities—whom she draws from magazine photographs. Her expressionist, almost abstract style examines representations of beauty in the media and fashion photography.
Bernhardt paints landscapes, still lifes, figures and objects from popular culture, and fantastical portraits of women—sometimes models and celebrities—whom she draws from magazine photographs. Her expressionist, almost abstract style examines representations of beauty in the media and fashion photography.