Armageddon 2020

Jo Baer's *Armageddon*, made with acrylic on canvas, is like stumbling into a dream—or maybe a not-so-dreamy premonition. There’s a collage-like quality, with distinct zones bumping up against each other. I'm drawn to the juxtaposition of the solid blocks of color and the more ethereal washes, particularly in the swirling vortex behind the figures. Check out that single stroke of deep violet as it wraps around the white circle, it’s a loaded moment, full of tension and release. The animal-headed figures that reappear throughout the composition are so strange and captivating! This reminds me a bit of Leonora Carrington. In both artist's works, the ambiguity and symbolism allows for multiple readings.