SEEING RED | Krystyna Printup
January 19 - February 23, 2025
Opening Reception: Sunday, January 26, 1-3pm*
Presenting to the viewer as a collection of paintings referencing found photographs and historical documents of the 19th century, these works act as a snapshot of her Native America story. The images are both of fiction and non-fiction narratives depicting the people and spaces that have influenced her Indigenous experience. Whether landscape or portrait both act as page in her story displaying the constant need to re address or bring to life the sense of “emptiness” within her subject matter. The landscapes portrayed represent real Reservation Land, but they do not conform to the outsider's romanticized perception of what it should look like. There are no defining markers that explicitly indicate this as Indian Land; instead, the land depicted could be anywhere. The portraits, on the other hand, lack a sense of vitality, with the models holding vacant stares reminiscent of colonial photographs from the turn of the century, which served as inspiration. By injecting traces of Tuscarora traditional crafts like raised beadwork and regalia patterns, Printup re-imagines their context within her work to make the images personal. The artworks capture the essence of Indigenous spaces and people in a vibrant and expressive manner, creating an inviting and celebratory atmosphere. They are intended to be visually appealing while leaving room for the viewer to interpret and continue the narrative without explicit explanations. This blurring of fact and fiction is a prominent feature in the Printup's work, reflecting the ongoing nature of Native American history.
Krystyna Printup (New York, 1983) is a Brooklyn based artist and educator whose work investigates her identity as an Indigenous woman and the issues surrounding ideal representations of the Native American community. A member of the New York Tuscarora Turtle Clan, Printup references her tribal history throughout her paintings, installations and design work referencing American Indian folk art, photography, and objects of everyday life which are then combined with her own family's history and traditions. Recent installations include The Tender Art Space, Concord, MA; Chashama Gala, New York, NY; and The Puffin Foundation, Teaneck, NJ. Printup has exhibited in group exhibitions at galleries including Southampton Arts Center, Southampton, NY; NYU Kimmel Window Gallery, New York, NY, and Assembly Room, New York, NY. Printup is the 2018 awardee of the Stony Brook "40 under 40" Award, Spark the arts, Hilton Tapestry Collection grantee and Fund for Teachers triple grantee. Printup received a BFA from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY and a MLA from Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.
*Opening Reception storm date: Feb 2, 1-3