It is an area I often visit and one of the galleries which has consistently shown exciting artists has been 1969 Gallery. Currently the show of Catherine Repko (b.1990, Danbury, Connecticut), Hark, in the back room of the gallery, on until the end of October, stands out. It is the artist’s first solo exhibition in the United States. A graduate of the Royal College of Art, her paintings of female figures represent family ties with her three sisters and the complex questions of sisterly bonds across the years.

The shapes are graceful and one understands the multi-layered aspect from the missing facial features, leaving us wondering about the emotions of these women. Having two sisters in different countries myself, the works resonated deeply with the way in which we communicate with each other through happy times or grief, despite the distance. With oil and marble dust on linen, earthy tones punctuated with blue and purple pastels, Repko captures the ladies in motion, often looking in the same direction. They seem close to each other, yet far away. Hark, the title of the exhibition, refers to how the figures lend an ear to one another. Family is a universal concept and the artist expresses it both candidly and profoundly.

Another striking show this month, one block away on Walker street, is also by an American woman artist from half a century earlier, Deborah Remington (b.1930, d.2010), at Bortolami gallery. The exhibition titled Mirrors includes large scale paintings spanning from 1969 until 1994. Bortolami gallery’s majestic ceilings, the authentic columns and the exceptional lighting of the main gallery amplify the intensity of the dark abstract canvases. Bright red areas contrast with the dark backgrounds and the painted mirrors. The mirrors and lines appear to be sometimes split or multi-dimensional, sticking out or moving as the viewer observes the work. In parallel, the first monograph of Remington’s work was published by Rizzoli Electa.

Deborah Remington (b.1930, d.2010), at Bortolami Gallery, NYC © Laura Lati for artfairmag

Gallery hopping in Tribeca is a delight because of how clustered the galleries are together, the stately architecture, the peaceful cobblestone streets and the many options to take breaks such as Jack Stir Brew at the Roxy, Rigor Hill Market and Frenchette.