In The Garden: Delphine Hennelly and Howard Fonda

In the Garden includes twelve paintings: six by Delphine Hennelly and six by Howard Fonda. These works examine the relationship of abstraction and representation explored through the garden landscape. At the gallery’s request, both artists interpreted the garden theme through paintings on canvas with dimensions of 40 x 30 inches. The consistency of the canvas size, intended to evoke the feeling of individual, curated moments as if stepping into a hidden path or alcove within a garden, creates rhythm and structure within the exhibition.

Formal elements including pattern, texture, and vibrancy of color palette play an integral role in Hennelly and Fonda’s work. The paintings depict busy flora and fauna, introspective wandering, and moments of solitude and reflection that one may experience in a garden setting. In addition to works depicting outdoor space, the artists have included intimate views of indoor greenery. A slinking cat plods behind a vase filled with peonies, a bouquet of yellow pansies, begonias, and primrose crowd the pictorial plane, and a terrarium of orange poppies and pink leaves offer moments of solace. Seen together, the works express beauty, the passage of time, life force, and mortality.

Delphine Hennelly received her BFA from Cooper Union in 2002 and her MFA from the Mason Gross School of Visual Arts, Rutgers University in 2017. Hennelly's work, through her use of pattern, repetition, and uncanny color palettes, addresses prescribed gender roles, immediacy of painting, and the human condition. Inspiration for the artist’s work includes tapestries, art history, and early Modernism. Hennelly has exhibited across the U.S. and Canada including her current show at Massey Klein, New York, NY; Pt.2 Gallery, Oakland, CA; Mother Gallery, Beacon, NY and Projet Pangée, Montreal, Quebec. Her recent past exhibitions include a two person exhibition, History Lessons, with Mimi Jung at Carvalho Park, Brooklyn, NY, and she made her European debut in May 2019 at Lisa Kandlhofer Gallery, Vienna. Hennelly is a three-time recipient of the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Award. Her work has appeared in numerous publications including ArtMaze Magazine, Nut Publication, New American Paintings, and more.

Howard Fonda received his MFA in Painting and Drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Philosophical and introspective, Fonda’s work expresses a romantic worldview and mystical inner journey within a painterly dialogue. The notions of form and content intertwine; abstraction, representation, and pattern are all strategies in his toolbox, and very often all appear in a single painting. Influenced by philosophy, mythological narratives, and Aboriginal textiles, Fonda’s paintings require of their viewers a high level of attention, and deep contemplation. Previously an instructor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Fonda has lectured, served on jurying and critique panels, and pursued curatorial projects at numerous universities and art centers. His work has appeared in ArtMaze Magazine, New American Paintings, Maake Magazine, Artforum, and more. The artist has exhibited throughout the United States and abroad, including his current show at Massey Klein, New York, NY. Recent past exhibitions include a solo show at Grifter, New York, NY, 2019 and Space, Portland, ME, 2019.

For additional information regarding the exhibition, including works available, please email info@masseyklein.com. 

Massey Klein Gallery is located at 124 Forsyth St. New York, NY 10002.  Gallery hours are by appointment only.  For press inquiries or questions about works available, please contact info@masseyklein.com or call +1.917.261.4657.