Barbara Takenaga arranges the simple components of her dense, abstract paintings into stunningly detailed compositions that undulate, radiate, and recede in seemingly infinite space. Her dazzling repetition of forms suggests the inherent yet sometimes incomprehensible logic of both the cosmic and the cellular, while spontaneous twists and puckers preserve the elements of wonder and surprise. Crisp, saturated color defines each discrete element in the tightly woven, tessellated work.
Barbara Takenaga was the Mary A. and William Wirt Warren Professor of Art at Williams College, a position she held from 1985 to 2018. She divides her time between Williamstown, MA, and New York City, where she maintains a studio.
Takenaga’s most recent awards include the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship in the field of Fine Arts, the Wauson Fellowship from the FOR-SITE Foundation, and the Eric Isenburger Annual Art Award from the National Academy of Design. She was born in North Platte, Nebraska.
