STEPHANIE KILGAST

LUSCIOUS LEGACY

October 4th - 27th, 2024

Opening Reception: First Friday, October 4th from 5pm - 9pm

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Arch Enemy Arts presents LUSCIOUS LEGACY, a solo debut by French artist Stéphanie Kilgast. Colorful and striking, Stéphanie’s work starts…with trash. Four water bottles, a milk carton, and three thrifted items (binoculars, a jewelry box, and one miniature clock) are the source material for this collection, reclaimed and adorned with astoundingly intricate modeling in clay, paper, and paint. The series playfully serves as an ode to nature’s resilience and the wonders of biodiversity amid life’s inevitable consumption. 

 

“My work touches very contrasting emotions: the joy of color and natural beauty but also the sadness and despair of where we are headed…I hope LUSCIOUS LEGACY helps viewers question the way they consume but also tickles their interest in the natural world. The world is beautiful. It is worth fighting for.” 

 

Stéphanie’s art practice is also her life practice. Values reflected in her diet, almost-vegan, and an extreme awareness of her materials: “I have tried to reduce the plastic I use in my work, but it is almost impossible with my approach. Working with reclaimed objects, you will always need glue, and glue is plastic. It is one of the reasons I started to paint with watercolors and oils more, but even there you have gesso (acrylic = plastic), varnish (usually acrylic = plastic), and plastic packaging everywhere. It can become very stifling, and after beating myself up for it, I have decided to embrace that contradiction.” We find this message inspiring. Stéphanie asks that we acknowledge our limitations but do what we can; her work says beauty will follow.

 

Stéphanie Kilgast was born in Germany and lives in Vannes, France. She has a Master’s degree in Architecture but is primarily self-taught when it comes to making art, learning how to work with mixed media sculpture mostly through trial and error. Collected and exhibited around the world, she began showing with Arch Enemy Arts in 2021. LUSCIOUS LEGACY is Stéphanie’s first solo feature with the gallery. With an opening reception on First Friday October 4th, it will be on view through October 27th.

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LUSCIOUS LEGACY will be on view from October 4th - 27th, 2024
Sold works will begin to ship the week starting November 4th unless other rush arrangements have been made.

Payment plan options are available on most works.

All items marked with a red dot have been sold. 

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