Miranda Parkes' palette of fluorescent colours, soft pastels, and golds and silvers beautifies the walls of Jonathan Smart Gallery, Christchurch, for her latest solo exhibition, Baller (13 July–12 August 2023).
Rooted in her interest in the possibilities of abstract painting, the New Zealand artist creates work that plays with two and three-dimensionality, depth and layering, as noted in the series of new works on view.
In jostler and Baller (both 2023), Parkes paints on MDF pallets, embracing the unusual contours and cavities of the surface.
In open relationship (fresh) (2022) we see Parkes' signature scrunched-up canvas, again demonstrating her preference for unconventional surfaces.
While in feverdreamer and ice princess (both 2023), Parkes shows off softer arrangements of canvas that billow like clouds. Her juxtaposition of metallic leaf with acrylic pastel pinks, purples, and blues presents a gentler celebration of colour and form.
Discussing her practice with ArtZone New Zeleand in 2020, Parkes said she intends to offer 'a clear-minded, joyful, and reflective space'.
