Octavia Art Gallery | Houston proudly presents DIFFERENT STROKES, an exhibition of five Houston Women Artists, who define elements of transformation and empowerment through their art; Meredith Knox Barineau, Anne Kinder, Marthann Masterson, Kathryn Rabinow and Marie Figge Wise.
Meredith Knox Barineau’s colorful watercolor paintings explore emotional symbolism through patterns and forms found in nature. Her abstract compositions employ deeply saturated jewel-toned hues, layers of glazes, wax, ink and pencil to create dynamic spaces that gradually unfold while remaining essentially linked to nature and the creative process. Barineau was born in Houston, where she currently resides. Barineau has received formal instruction in painting at the Glassell School of Arts, Museum of Fine Arts Houston. She has exhibited her work throughout Houston, at Edot Gallery, The Cloister Gallery and at The Glassell School of Art.
Anne Kinder creates contemplative watercolor paintings that are realistic renderings of personal images. Kinder is an avid traveler, and takes inspiration from a variety of subject matter from the exotic animals in Africa to the banal watering can at the Chelsea Flower Show in London. Equally compelling, Kinder’s thoughtful paintings of antique dolls and bears, a nostalgic homage to treasured collections shared between the artist and her daughter, exemplify the artist’s deft hand and use of color. Kinder was born in Missouri but Houston has been home for 35 years. She currently splits her time between Houston and Crested Butte, CO. Her work has been exhibited in solo exhibitions at the Center for the Arts in Crested Butte, and in Missouri and Houston. She has also exhibited in various group shows in Houston and Crested Butte, and holds “Signature Elite Status” by jury at the Watercolor Art Society-Houston.
Marthann Masterson’s abstract paintings are expressions of the energizing force of joy. Masterson has developed an artistic practice where stripes of colorful acrylic paint are poured from the top of each canvas, often combined with mixed media, leaving her signature drip marks at the bottom. In her most recent body of work, Masterson’s application of bold vibrant colors has become more deliberate, exploring a new range of colors with inhibition. Masterson was born in Houston, where she currently resides. The artist received formal instruction in painting at the Glassell School of Art, Museum of Fine Arts Houston. She is represented by Bee Street Gallery in Dallas, TX. Masterson has previously shown her work at Octavia Art Gallery Houston in January of 2017 with her solo exhibition, “Between the Lines.” She has exhibited her work throughout New York, Florida and Texas where she was recently included in “The Heart of Texas” benefit exhibition at Laura Rathe Fine Art gallery, Houston.
Kathryn Rabinow is a photographer whose work is often inspired by the thrill of the chase for the capture of an exceptional moment. In her photographs she reveals the uniqueness within the pattern on a flower petal, the movement of the early morning fog, and even finds intrigue in cracks found in dried mud. She especially enjoys the creative opportunity presented when refining her photographic images. Through what she terms “computer magic” she elevates subjects that are often overlooked into a work of art. Dr. Rabinow was born in New Jersey and currently resides in Houston. She has exhibited her work in solo exhibitions at the Jung Center, at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center and Aker Gallery in Houston. She has participated in group exhibitions throughout the Houston area, Florida, and Colorado. Her work is in the permanent collections of the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C. and in corporate and private collections throughout the US and Europe.
Marie Figge Wise’s plein-air paintings were born out of a desire to combine her passion for travel and the outdoors with her love of art. Formerly a still-life painter, Wise found inspiration in the farmlands of her hometown in the Midwest and in the landscapes of Texas, Colorado and Montana. The artist paints with a diffused, tonal quality that truly captures what it feels to slow down and experience the natural world around you. In addition to landscapes, Wise has become known for her portraits of family dogs, capturing the essence of each beloved member as if they were her own. Wise was born in Davenport, Iowa and now splits her time between Texas and Colorado. She has studied studio art at The Art Student’s League of New York, NY and at Gonzaga University in Florence, Italy. Wise is represented by RS Hanna Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX, and Ann Korologos Gallery in Basalt, CO where she has participated in solo and group exhibitions. Her work has also been exhibited at Jack Meier Gallery in Houston, and throughout Texas and Colorado.
DIFFERENT STROKES brings together five Houston women, spanning two generations, from varying backgrounds and careers.
Octavia is especially honored to present this group of diverse artists who are bound in their shared passion for art and the act of creating art.