Several of the artist’s works, such as Blå aften [Blue Evening] and Dansen [The Dance] (both 2024) were part of Thaddaeus Ropac’s recent survey of contemporary painting, “Embodied Forms: Painting Now.” Pade’s figurative paintings are influenced by Northern European traditions along with mythological and metaphysical elements, drawing inspiration from artists such as Edvard Munch and Otto Dix. Her paintings often feature full-length, interlocking figures emerging from abstract backgrounds. “With my figurative painting, I create blurred lines or gaps that become the language for the things we can’t put into words,” Pade said in a statement, discussing her intuitive approach.
This focus on young artists like Pade underscores another theme in the market, where galleries are increasingly investing in younger voices that speak to contemporary social and cultural issues. Thaddaeus Ropac, founder of the gallery, described Pade’s work as “transportative and provocative…pushing forward the possibilities for depicting empowered female embodiment.”