Starting with the inherently gridded layouts of LEGO baseplates, Katherine Duclos creates vibrant, undulating compositions of pastels and gradients. The Vancouver-based artist employs the colorful bricks in a variety of geometric patterns and low-relief textures to achieve dynamic compositions that appear almost kinetic, adding her own effects with paint. The impression of movement, paired with the tactility of the toy pieces, transforms a familiar object we typically associate with childlike play into a elegant assemblages cradled in wood panels.
A large-scale, participatory exhibition of new work by Duclos, including a couple of LEGO pieces, marks the first presentation of the new ACT Arts Centre in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. The compositions you see here go on view in Grid Memories at Heron Arts in San Francisco alongside works by Alexis Arnold, Gina Borg, and Kim Bennett, running from January 31 to March 5. And she’s currently working toward another interactive show slated for June in Sweden, during which visitors will be able to interact with Duclos’ LEGO pieces. Find more on her Instagram.
