The Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester is pleased to present the exhibition Rochester Americana: The Watercolors of Karal Ann Marling, on view in the Lockhart Gallery from August, 2 – October 27, 2019. Drawing on her illustrious career as a scholar of American art and popular culture, the watercolor paintings of Karal Ann Marling express her unique and colorful perspective on her intimate home spaces, her hometown of Rochester, and in particular her 19th Ward neighborhood.
After taking to watercolor at the MAG’s Creative Workshop, artist and scholar Karal Ann Marling began painting her surroundings, producing sophisticated and impactful works that reflect her distinctive outlook on her community. With this in mind, Rochester Americana will showcase Karal Ann’s attention to detail and pattern through her smaller home subjects looking inward to her interior spaces, her playful observances of her immediate neighborhood and the 19th Ward, and her depictions of the urban landscapes of her hometown of Rochester. The exhibit will also feature artwork that Karal Ann made as a child, demonstrating her lifelong interest in creating art.