MAKING IT HAPPEN:

RESILIENCE at Laura Rathe Fine Art marks 8^th Anniversary in Dallas

Celebrating its milestone of eight years in the Dallas Design District, Laura Rathe Fine Art presents RESILIENCE, a group anniversary exhibition featuring new works from their distinguished gallery artists. The opening days will take place by appointment next week beginning on Friday, February 26th, and Saturday, February 27th.

From the onset of the pandemic a year ago Laura Rathe describes, “We immediately shifted to weekly virtual exhibitions, which exposed 1-2 artists a week rather than our typical six-week run time. This gave clients direct and immediate access to art at the click of a mouse. Since in-person exhibitions were canceled, artists gave us direct access to all the art in their studio that we normally wouldn’t have the room to showcase. Artists were also able to create even more incredible art during quarantine which, therefore, gave us an even bigger selection to offer. We also spent a great deal of time researching and signed on several strong national and international artists.”

LRFA first presented their roster of artists to the Dallas art scene in 2013 and has since helped cultivate the city’s remarkable art community. RESILIENCE pays tribute to the challenges of the past while exploring a new chapter through a variety of inspiring new works of innovative media from artists such as Zhuang Hong Yi, Meredith Pardue, Stallman, Matt Devine, Lucrecia Waggoner, Carly Allen-Martin, Max Steven-Grossman, and many more. The gallery will also be introducing Javier León Perez, and Didem Yagci to their roster. 

Javier León Pérez was born in Seville in 1977, where he went on to study at the School of Arts, obtaining a graduate degree in 2001, specializing in ceramics and sculpture. In 2007 he received a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Arts in Seville, before completing his MFA in Creation and Investigation MAC+1 at the University Complutense de Madrid. Javier’s Japanese paper works are all about the detailed process – the eternal repetition of small elements that cover the surface act as a mantra, a sacred formula, and a deeply personal ritual for the artist. Javier is interested in the viewers’ ability to project itself as they look at connections with the reality, or signs and symbols established when experimenting with abstract forms.

As an Istanbul-born artist, Didem Yagci was deeply inspired by the late Victor Vasarely, who created abstract works based on optical illusion and geometry, as well as Frank Stella, whose textured works express his masterful use of color. Didem Yagci’s wooden sculptures form kinetical patterns that express notions of creation, infinity, and eternity. Working with wood, her method presents layered delicate pieces she sands by hand placed together to create three-dimensional canvases with richly textured, impasto-like surfaces.

“Going on eight years in Dallas, I attribute the success of LRFA to my incredible roster of artists and staff. At all levels, there is a tireless passion, camaraderie, and expertise.” Speaking of her two-story gallery on Dragon Street Rathe continues, “I would like to recognize that the past eight years would not have been possible without the unyielding support of our patrons. Their devotion and love for contemporary art is what allows these artists to further explore and cultivate their careers.”

Viewers are invited to the dual celebration of eight years in Dallas and finding RESILIENCE in the face of unprecedented times through March 27. If you are unable to see the exhibition in person, LRFA has created an online catalog which you can view here.  

“These transformative times have undoubtedly tested our spirits, but we move forward together with a newfound resilience.” Like most businesses, Rathe had to find unique ways to adapt to the new normal, “My incredible staff and I put our heart and soul into creating innovative ideas that helped continue supporting our artists and bringing beautiful art into people’s homes. A few key changes in our business approach are what helped us thrive during this pandemic.”

The impact of COVID on the retail sector offered a silver lining for Rathe. The opportunity presented itself to open a new pop-up gallery at the prestigious River Oaks District in Houston. Of the new Houston space, Rathe explains, “Just like our Dallas location, it has a unique design with open windows, multiple entrances, high ceilings, and an outdoor courtyard that allows us to have socially-distanced openings.”