Strawberry Tart Supreme 1974

Audrey Flack constructed Strawberry Tart Supreme from paint, with a commitment to color and form, she invites us into a world of visual and tactile delight. The way Flack handles the paint – thick in some areas, almost translucent in others – gives the image a palpable sense of depth. You can almost feel the glossy surfaces of the chocolate and jam. Look closely at how she renders the strawberries. Each one seems to have its own unique texture, from the tiny seeds to the glazy, wet surface. Flack’s work reminds me a bit of Wayne Thiebaud’s. But where Thiebaud presents a kind of removed, almost nostalgic view of Americana, Flack dives right into the sensual, almost overwhelming experience of the everyday. She turns mundane items into objects of contemplation, reminding us that beauty and meaning can be found in the simplest things. This piece is a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, one that invites us to question, to feel, and to connect.