Art

Genevieve Felix Reynolds

Genevieve Felix Reynolds is a Sydney painter who combines her passion for early modernism with a background in digital photography, resulting in intricate multi-layered geometric paintings.

Written
by
Lisa Marie Corso

Genevieve Felix Reynolds’ Chippendale studio. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files.

Completed works in the studio of Genevieve Felix Reynolds. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files.

Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files.

Genevieve mixing her paint palette. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files.

Genevieve at work in her studio. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files.

Studio details. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files.

Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files.

Sydney-based artist Genenvieve Felix Reynolds in her Chippendale studio. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files.

Writer
Lisa Marie Corso
2nd of July 2015

Genevieve Felix Reynolds grew up around paintings. Both her parents are artists, and at one stage they visited the same gallery so frequently that a young Genevieve thought her family owned it. They didn’t, they’re just really passionate about art. So it seems inevitable that Genevieve would eventually become involved in the arts herself.

After studying photography and film at university, Genevieve made the transition to painting after graduation. ‘I wanted to spend less time in front of a computer and for my artwork to be physical and connected to space and architecture,’ she recalls. ‘Painting seemed like the best way to explore this desire.’ Working out of her Chippendale studio today, her colourful geometric works points to an intersection between her passion for early modernism and historical events, while also referencing her background in digital photography. ‘I look at a lot of early modernists like László Moholy-Nagy, and 18th century big rigs like Tiepolo and Boucher. I love the way they use colour and integrate their paintings in interiors settings.’

Genevieve approaches each artwork fastidiously. Before even beginning to paint she will sketch ideas and paintings on her iPad in great detail. She will then explore these complex geometric shapes, swiping left and right and zooming in and out, until she finds a crop that she will coax into reality and physically paint. ‘My process involves translating crops of these virtual spaces into painted objects, I freeze the composition,’ she says. Each painting is multi-layered, and painted in individual sections to reveal a kaleidoscopic view and extreme close up of the original sketch that inspired the completed work.

This year has already been busy for Genevieve, having just returned from New York where she had an exhibition at Chasm Gallery alongside artist Belem Lett. She currently has a show on at Michael Reid Gallery in Sydney, and is preparing for another three exhibitions later in the year. Right now though she is looking forward to being an exhibiting finalist in The Churchie National Emerging Art Prize awarded later this month, and of course making more paintings.

Genevieve’s work is currently on show at Michael Reid Gallery.

Paintings in progress. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files.

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