Inka Essenhigh
I stumbled upon Inka Essenhigh a few weeks ago and was immediately drawn to the other-worldly quality of her art. I confess, I like to go places, especially those fantastical off-the-grid joints. Essenhigh’s micro-macrocosms are inviting because they offer a sense that things could be different. As reviewer Lilly Wei notes in a recent issue of Art & Antiques, “Her works are not escapist but about other possibilities, accompanied, at times, with a quiver of disquiet, as if she knows how fragile all this is, how fleeting.” I highly recommend Wei’s excellent overview of Essenhigh.
The vibrant colors, the curves, the parties…
Blue Spruce 2020
enamel on canvas, 50 x 80 inches
Born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, Inka Essenhigh received her Master of Fine Arts from School of Visual Arts, New York, NY and her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus, OH. She lives and works in New York, NY.
Purple Pods 2019
enamel on canvas, 34 x 32 inches
from the Miles McEnery Gallery:
“As found throughout Surrealism and other modern avant-garde movements, Essenhigh’s paintings tend be uniquely episodic, while still sharing themes of flora and fauna. They are touched by a curious self-containment and an interiority of the force of imagination. Her works display dimensional narratives that require close-up viewing, creating a visceral dialogue, one viewer at a time. Each is marked by bright, rich color, and a decision to revel in the “little world” schema of psychology with a fluidity between people and their things.”
Forever Young 2020
enamel on canvas, 60 x 42 inches
Blue Sycamore 2023
enamel on canvas, 68 x 54 inches