"Puno" Exhibit by Katrina Bello at Kent Place Gallery

Kent Place Gallery will present the solo exhibition "Puno", by artist Katrina Bello through Friday, January 6, 2023.  

The artist grew up in the Philippines, and the title of the show, "Puno", is the Filipino word for "tree". It is also the word for "full", "filled" and "complete". Working in a variety of media, including charcoal and graphite on heavy paper, Bello examines and interprets trees and forests, sometimes looking at surfaces from inches away and sometimes stepping back to take in a larger scene. The works are large in scale (most of the drawings are 100 inches wide). A horizontally placed thirty-eight-foot-long scroll drawing laid out on a platform in the gallery, partially still rolled up so that while much is visible, it also retains its mystery. This exhibition spans the development of her artistic practice from the year 2011 to the present.

Gallery Director Ken Weathersby said about this exhibition, "I am thrilled to see Katrina Bello’s works in Kent Place Gallery.  The story or song that she coaxes from trees in her art is full of feeling as well as clear-eyed observation. In that way, they feel like a meaningful connection with the beauty of trees and forests, while also in touch with the urgent and dire reality of our current relationship with the natural world."

Katrina Bello’s art has been shown in many solo and group exhibitions across the US and internationally, and is the recipient of numerous awards and residencies, including the Wurlitzer Foundation, the Millay Colony and others. Ms. Bello is also founder and facilitator of North Willow art space in Montclair, NJ. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Maryland Institute, College of Art.