Zoe McGuire: Afterimage

Kutlesa is thrilled to announce Afterimage, the inaugural solo exhibition by Zoe McGuire. Opening on September 4, 2025, at our new gallery space located at 537b West 23rd Street, New York. Afterimage is a captivating exploration of the intricate relationship between human perception, the natural world, and the cosmos. Through a series of visually arresting and intellectually provocative works, Zoe McGuire invites viewers to contemplate the limits of human perception and the profound connections that bind us to the universe.

McGuire's artistry emerges from a rich tapestry of research, blending scientific discovery with natural wonder. Drawing from NASA's cosmic archives and her own meticulous field sketches from the New York Botanical Garden and the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, McGuire creates works that transcend traditional artistic boundaries. Her works, like Red Door and Overlook, are vivid collages of memory and imagination, inspired by her frequent visits to nature centers. By merging these recollections with ethereal dreamscapes, McGuire crafts a unique visual language that challenges viewers to question the nature of perception and the fluid boundary between reality and remembrance.

Central to the exhibition is the concept of afterimage—the lingering visual impression that persists long after the original stimulus has vanished. This phenomenon serves as a powerful metaphor for the enduring impact of our encounters with nature. McGuire employs color as an energetic force, weaving vibrant hues to evoke the vitality of organic and cosmic forms while emphasizing their interconnectedness.

Scale plays a crucial role in McGuire's works, particularly in her striking diptychs, where botanical and celestial elements are juxtaposed in unexpected ways. By manipulating proportions, she underscores the fluidity of perception, revealing how our understanding of the natural world is shaped—and sometimes distorted—by the tools we use to observe it.

Afterimage also delves into the relativity of time, compressing vast cosmic and geological timelines into singular, evocative moments. Works such as Canopies and Collision juxtapose ancient natural structures—like lily pads and star fields—with the fleeting, ephemeral beauty of celestial events. These pieces highlight the tension between permanence and transience, serving as a poignant reminder of the impermanence of all things.