RENI GOWER’S GeoMATRIX: A PERFECT PROOF
September 8–October 29, 2023
Concourse Gallery
Artist’s Statement
My artwork recognizes geometric perfection (sacred geometry) as the matrix of the cosmos. Since ancient times, perfect forms (circle, square, and triangle) have been thought to convey sacred and universal truths by reflecting the fractal interconnections of the body and the natural world. One finds these similarities embedded in the decorative designs of all cultures across the globe. Significantly, by incorporating these motifs into contemporary works, one can reveal the cross-cultural bonds of our shared humanity.
So inspired, I produce new geometric iterations based on the traditional patterns and cultural symbols governed by the universality of mathematical perfection. Initially informed by American piece quilts, my studio practice is also inspired by Celtic knotwork and Islamic tile patterns and has expanded to include hand cut paper or Tyvek works, cut vinyl, or sand installations for windows, doors, or floors.
Viewer response worldwide has confirmed the prevalent yet profound spiritual and emotional qualities of color, light, and pattern central to my art. Through the universal language of sacred geometry, my art celebrates slow work made by hand, counters visual skimming, and encourages quiet reflection. As such, it is a perfect conduit for conversations that can build community despite shifting sociopolitical narratives.
About the Artist
Reni Gower received a 2023 Virginia Commission for the Arts Fellowship for Works on Paper. In 2020, she received a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant. In 2017, she was awarded SECAC’s Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement. In 2014, she received the College Art Association’s Distinguished Teacher of Art Award, as well as distinguished teaching awards from Virginia Commonwealth University and VCUarts.
Gower’s artwork is represented in many prestigious collections and has been exhibited at international and national venues for over 40 years. In addition to her painting practice, she curates award-winning traveling exhibitions that include The Garden, FLASHPOINTS: Material / Intent / Fused, Geometric AljamÃa: A Cultural Transliteration, and Pulped Under Pressure: The Art of Handmade Paper. After 37 years, Professor Emerita Gower retired from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2018. She is represented by Chroma Projects (Charlottesville, VA).
Image: Reni Gower, Papercuts, 2023
