Á hestbaki 1978

Louisa Matthiasdottir’s painting, Á hestbaki, is made with these juicy strokes of color, especially blues, greens, and whites, all dancing together. I imagine Matthiasdottir, brush in hand, stepping back, squinting, adding another dab of paint. Each stroke feels considered, not overworked, but just right, you know? It reminds me of Fairfield Porter, another painter who knew how to make the everyday feel kind of epic. There's a directness, a kind of "what you see is what you get" vibe, but also a real understanding of light and how it shapes everything. Look at how she’s built up the form of the horses with just a few strokes – that takes serious skill. You can practically feel the Icelandic air and the movement of the horses. Matthiasdottir and other artists like her keep the conversation of painting alive, generation after generation. They remind us to look closely and find the extraordinary in the ordinary.