Adriel Nguyen: Skipping Stones
Adriel Nguyen: Skipping Stones
2022
Agnes Keller Gallery unveils Adriel Nguyen: Skipping Stones, a luminous new exhibition that deepens the artist’s exploration of abstract landscape. Known for her bold use of color and expressive brushwork, Nguyen brings a sense of movement and meditation to each canvas. The title refers to both the physical act of skipping stones and the emotional ripple effect of memory and place. Her paintings are layered with vibrant hues—emerald greens, fiery oranges, and deep ultramarines—that seem to shimmer and shift as you move. In Stone Song, Nguyen uses sweeping arcs and bursts of pigment to evoke the rhythm of water and weight. Echo Pool offers a more introspective palette, with soft lavenders and muted golds dissolving into one another. The works are abstract, yet grounded in sensation—each one a landscape felt rather than seen.
Nguyen’s brushwork is fluid and gestural, suggesting both spontaneity and control. “I think of painting as a kind of skipping,” she says, “a way of touching down lightly across memory.” The exhibition features ten new works, each one a meditation on movement, reflection, and emotional terrain. The gallery’s clean lines and natural light provide a perfect setting for Nguyen’s vibrant compositions. Critics have noted the evolution in her palette and the increasing complexity of her mark-making. Her influences range from post-war abstraction to Vietnamese folk art, blending tradition with innovation. Skipping Stones invites viewers to pause, reflect, and feel the resonance of color and gesture. Nguyen’s landscapes are not destinations—they are journeys. The show runs through November and marks a pivotal moment in her artistic trajectory. With Skipping Stones, Adriel Nguyen continues to redefine what abstract landscape can be: bold, lyrical, and deeply human.
Nguyen’s brushwork is fluid and gestural, suggesting both spontaneity and control. “I think of painting as a kind of skipping,” she says, “a way of touching down lightly across memory.” The exhibition features ten new works, each one a meditation on movement, reflection, and emotional terrain. The gallery’s clean lines and natural light provide a perfect setting for Nguyen’s vibrant compositions. Critics have noted the evolution in her palette and the increasing complexity of her mark-making. Her influences range from post-war abstraction to Vietnamese folk art, blending tradition with innovation. Skipping Stones invites viewers to pause, reflect, and feel the resonance of color and gesture. Nguyen’s landscapes are not destinations—they are journeys. The show runs through November and marks a pivotal moment in her artistic trajectory. With Skipping Stones, Adriel Nguyen continues to redefine what abstract landscape can be: bold, lyrical, and deeply human.
