Paris, France — Mere panels used in construction have been transformed into exciting and eye-catching works of art by the contemporary artist Barbara Bojadzi. She hails from the medieval French town of Provins where she lives and works and where she discovered construction material by watching her father work. She began painting layers and layers of colors on the panels and she creates constantly either re-using the panels by painting over them or reclaiming the construction panels and in so doing offers up a practically completely new art medium. The Galleria Continua in the Marais district of Paris is currently hosting her works in an exhibition entitled Ordered Fields. She works mainly outdoors and paint drips are incorporated into her works and so the forces of nature, like the wind, can actually have an influence over her works which are rooted in the quest for recurring patterns. Some of her paintings are practically sculpted given the amount of layers in them.  

And it’s nice to know that her fine work has received prestigious prizes. Originally from Kosovo, she lives in Provins and in 2021, she graduated the world renowned École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris (The National School of Fine Arts in Paris) and has received the Khalil de Chazournes Prize, which is awarded by the Friends of the school as well as the Sisley Beaux-Arts de Paris Prize for young creation in 2023. 

The Galleria Continua, in its spacious exhibition space, is also presenting the works of the Franco-Venezuelan artist and renowned color master Carlos Cruz-Diez. A major figure in the world of contemporary art, he is a pioneer of kinetic art and the optical illusions in the show, fittingly entitled the Euphorie of Color, are nothing short of spectacular. He lives and works in Paris and this show marks his first solo exhibition. And also on the agenda at the gallery are the intriguing statement works by the contemporary Cuban artist, Yoan Capote entitled Espinario. The works explore myriad themes but are linked to the artist’s sociopolitical themes which include migration and borders. 

Galleria Continua was founded in 1990 by Mario Cristiani, Lorenzo Fiaschi and Maurizio Rigillo in the magnificent and timeless Italian city of San Gimignano. It aims, as its name implies, to give continuity to contemporary art in a landscape rich in signs of ancient art. Other locations followed including Beijing, Havana, Rome and Paris which opened in the historic Marais district in 2021. The Galleria Continua is more than just a beautiful exhibition space. There is a book store and a place for enjoying beverages, light meals, snacks and award-winning Italian ice-cream. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette. Open Tuesday to Saturday 11am until 7pm and by appointment. The current shows are on through May 28th. 87 rue du Temple, 75003, Paris, France, +33 (0) 1 43 70 00 88. https://www.galleriacontinua.com/