The paintings of Sophie Treppendahl have both a keen sense of observation and a feeling of stillness. Her work creates a narrative on the passage of time. We see vivid depictions of simple moments, all rooted in Treppendahl's own life experiences. Treppendahl says, “Through painting, I aim to capture not the likeness to an image but the overwhelming feeling of the space or a memory. In my studio, I work from recorded observations, often photographs and drawings that then serve as a springboard to explore pattern, color, light and shadow. When creating, the representation becomes secondary, my primary focus becoming the painting process itself. As I translate reflection, pattern, and shadows through paint, the image lends itself to abstraction, manipulation and exaggeration. Through this, the painting takes on new life. And instead of creating a hollow representation of a moment that once was, I hope to create something altogether new - a painting imbued with the vibrance of that instance, the glow of how it felt, and the love of translating it through paint.” Influenced by painters Lois Dodd, Alex Katz and Josephine Halvorson, these intimate moments are expertly depicted. Treppendahl’s lush use of color, buttery paint strokes and ever-changing light, makes a recognizable moment that feels warm and inviting. The never ending feeling of summer freedom, the sun’s warm embrace on bare skin - the sense of life well lived - are apparent.
Sophie TREPPENDAHL (b. 1991, Baton Rouge, LA) received her BFA from College of Charleston (Charleston, SC) in 2013. Treppendahl's work was recently featured in The New York Times front-page Arts Section story, "What Our Critics Are Looking Forward to in 2024.” Sophie Treppendahl’s work is the subject of the group exhibition “The Sky Has a Thousand Windows,” at Philip Martin Gallery. Her work was the subject of a solo exhibition, "Take Care of Yourself," at Philip Martin Gallery (Los Angeles. CA). Recent solo and group exhibitions include Haverkampf Leistenschneider (Berlin, Germany); Jack Hanley Gallery (New York, NY); Hashimoto Contemporary (New York, NY); Johansson Projects (Oakland, CA); Quirk Gallery (Richmond, VA); Kenise Barnes Fine Art (Larchmont, NY); 1969 Gallery (New York, NY); Carrie Secrist Gallery (Chicago, IL); Heaven Gallery (Chicago, IL); Indianapolis Art Center (Indianapolis, IN); Ada Gallery (Richmond, VA); Dread Lounge (Los Angeles, CA); The Broad (Richmond, CA); How’s Howard (Boston, MA); The Southern Gallery (Charleston, SC); Gildar Gallery (Denver, CO); and Richard and Dolly Mass Gallery (Purchase, NY). Treppendahl has been awarded residencies with the Golden Foundation (New Berlin, NY); 100 W Corsicana (Corsicana, TX); The provincial (Chief, MI); and The Wassaic Project (Wassais, NY). Her work has been reviewed in publications such as Booooooom, White Hot Magazine of Contemporary Art, Hyperallergic, and Chicago Reader. Treppendahl lives and works in New Orleans, LA.