Zoe Gac + Karla Biery
Night Vision

Night Vision presents a selection of paintings and a crocheted wall hanging from Chicago-based artists Zoe Gac and Karla Biery. Night Vision focuses on the present – emotions, relationships and experiences that are grounded in a particular moment. Both Gac and Biery use their art as a reflection on the dynamics of intimacy and attachment.

Gac describes her practice as a carathis of intense emotions and a way of processing experiences. She feels moved to paint moments when she’s seen most clearly the essence of her life. Gac’s paintings are very intimate, often tightly framed centering a single figure. The visceral portraits Gac portrays showcase the attachment to self people cannot shake, even in a room filled with people. These paintings are so veracious and confrontational in their solitude yet can be attached seamlessly to the crowd that is drowned out.

Biery’s work focuses on the weaving together of experiences to show a broader image of the human condition. The crochet piece seen in Night Vision expresses the feeling of community while giving all of its parts room to be seen. Each loop, stitch, and knot within the web acts as a physical vessel for every part of what makes a community whole. Biery is drawn to working with textiles because each stitch becomes an integral part of the work’s foundation. Each stitch will be slightly different, much like people who shape a community. These connections create strength within their ecosystem. 

In Night Vision Gac and Biery have worked together to create a harmonious vision of connection with self and others. Where Gac creates solitude and harsh edges, Biery uses softness with collection and rounded motions. The wall-hanging has a movement of its own and the paintings are the pulsating pieces. Their works interact much like nerves and neural networks. Biery’s work portrays universal patterns and the network of life while Gac’s work can be seen in the stitches of the web. Together their works tell a story that is both deeply personal but also interconnected with everything and everyone around them. Night Vision gives a glimpse into the mountainous terrain of experience and exposure. It is the unveiling of the most vulnerable parts of intimacy.