Eternal Forms

Grace DeGennaro

Sept. 17 - Nov. 7, 2026
Opening Reception: Thurs., Sept. 17, 5 - 7pm
Artist Talk: Oct. 15, 6pm

ARTIST STATEMENT

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FEATURED ARTIST

Beyond cultural and religious differences, beyond language and time, a temple invites us into the dynamic stillness that lies at the heart of the turning world and remind us of our place in the divine order of things.
— The Book of Symbols, Reflections on Archetypal Images

Archetypal images, with their ability to communicate ideas which transcend religion and culture, are the foundation of my studio practice. My paintings and works on paper bridge Eastern and Western thought through geometry, pattern and color in order to embody ideas of ritual, growth and the passage of time.

I am continuing to make drawings and paintings focusing on the symbolism of the circle and the square and the relation of each to a vertical and horizontal axis, the cross of time and space. Circles symbolize the cosmos and squares delineate the spatial directions in our physical world. The cross is an underlying symbol of the four cardinal directions as they relate to the unfolding of the seasons and the turning of the day.

This series is inspired by the geometric similarities between the compositions of Tibetan mandalas and the cross-sectional blueprint for the dome of Donato Bramante’s 1502 Tempietto(small temple). Both feature a circular sacral area surrounded by a square; both are aligned on axes. But beyond their shared visual language lie other compelling similarities which I explore and seek to represent through this new series––for example, both play with notions of two and three dimensionality and both represent a sacred space.

Rooted in unfolding geometric forms and the process of accretion, my work is a deliberate layering of transparent shapes and collections of opaque dots and beads of color. The Golden Mean––a ratio found in nature and architecture, and known for being the ideal moderate position between two extremes––is what determines the dimensions of my work. The Fibonacci sequence––a series of numbers in which each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers––provides me a framework to plot patterns marking the natural processes of growth and time. Though I strive for symmetry and precision in my work, evidence of my hand renders each piece subtly asymmetric, serving as a reminder to the viewer of our collective humanity.

Layering these ancient geometric forms that occur in both Eastern and Western cultures illuminates symbols of the past and brings them into contemporary visual culture. The paintings and works on paper share a meditative quality evoking stillness and devotion––the very characteristics that the Tibetan mandalas and the Tempietto seek to awaken.

— Grace DeGennaro