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“Although landscape provides a concrete point of reference for both the viewer and for me, my interest is not in creating a window on the world. Rather, it is to transform what I’ve seen into a visually compelling image in its own right. Although nature-based, the work is primarily formal. The universal elements of landscape – trees, sky, ground – are simplified more and more, and chance paint events lend an improvisational complexity. For me, painting becomes a journey of visual discovery as the image develops almost in its own way.” Contemporary artist Irma Cerese presents painterly landscapes, which sometimes border on the abstract, yet are often described as evocative, expressing a sense of time and place. Her primary focus is on color relationships, evident in vivid canvases that are defined by lush, mysterious darks, vibrant chromatic contrast, or subtle combinations of glowing hues. Inspired by the tactile qualities of paint, she uses both brush and palette knife to apply acrylic in thick layers and thin glazes, often scraping into the surface for emphasis. Primarily square in format, these are distinctive, self-framed paintings.
After formal schooling at the Academy of Art and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Cerese moved to New York City, where she maintained a studio until 1985. During that phase she was active in artist-run ventures and exhibited in several commercial galleries as well. She was also employed in the health-insurance industry for some of that period. Following a move to the Boston area, she spent time away from art-related activities until she was able to devote her energies exclusively to painting again. She currently lives and works in southeastern Massachusetts. Her award-winning work has been seen in juried, invitational, group, and solo exhibitions and is included in private, corporate, and institutional collections.
After formal schooling at the Academy of Art and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Cerese moved to New York City, where she maintained a studio until 1985. During that phase she was active in artist-run ventures and exhibited in several commercial galleries as well. She was also employed in the health-insurance industry for some of that period. Following a move to the Boston area, she spent time away from art-related activities until she was able to devote her energies exclusively to painting again. She currently lives and works in southeastern Massachusetts. Her award-winning work has been seen in juried, invitational, group, and solo exhibitions and is included in private, corporate, and institutional collections.
