ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Walking into the Scheller Gallery at the Allentown Art Museum, the first thing that crosses your mind is, “Who’s that girl?”
Or better yet, “What’s she thinking?”
The mysterious woman is the creation of artist Ellen Berkenblit in her first solo exhibit called, “The Clouds are Luminous.”
“I think she’s a really strong kind of iconic figure, the woman in profile, she’s often facing to the left, looking over her shoulder, and she’s often shown with animal familiars,” said Elaine Mehalakes, vice president of Curatorial Affairs at the Allentown Art Museum.
Tigers and peacocks peer out from colorful and bold linen canvases that can’t help but hold your gaze.
Berkenblit has been critically acclaimed for more than 40 years.
Her work included in the collections of, among others, The Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney in New York.
This side glance is one of her signature images.
But when you gaze into the green eyes of the full-faced redhead, you’re witnessing an artist’s evolution.
Berkenblit painted this image for the first time earlier this year.
Walking into the Fowler gallery, the mood changes with wallpaper designed by the artist and dramatic multi-media creations.
“This is a fabulous, immersive installation,” said Mehalakes. “I love how she uses materials. In this case, these Kozo collages. They use Kozo paper, which is this handmade mulberry paper with long fibers, and they actually take the place of the feathers of the peacock or the petals of a flower.”
Beyond the exhibit itself, there is a local connection.
Berkenblit collaborated with Vasari Paints in Easton on the colors and the paint used for her work.
Berkenblit and Vasari representatives are scheduled to talk about that collaboration at the museum in March.
“Ellen Berkenblit: The Clouds are Luminous” is on display through May 17.
The Allentown Art Museum will stay open until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 6 following the Tree Lighting in the Arts Park for those who wish to be the first to see the exhibit.