Washington DC
Katzen Arts Center at American University
The two-story atrium of the Katzen Arts Center, aggressively bisected by a large staircase that leads to the upper galleries, has always been a challenge for exhibiting painters and sculptors. Its robust architectural presence can make even the most daring artistic statement appear timid. Yet every once in a while, an artist manages to find an effective way of responding to its imposing sculptural volume and unpredictable angles: recent examples include Sam Gilliam’s draped pieces hung from the curved walls and ceiling (2011) and Emilie Brzezinski’s monumental wood sculptures, whose rough tree-like shapes appeared alive against the space’s stark planes (2012). …see the entire review in the print version of July/August’s Sculpture magazine.
