Karla Black

On viewing the world of Karla Black, we are immediately reminded of elaborate cakes from a society of wit and friendship, of extravagantly sized three-storied sandwiches, and of compost heaps. Multiple layers, insistently present materials and highly tactile and sensual delights dominate all her works. Through our knowledge of art history we recognize the cakes from Claes Oldenburg, and the surface ornamentations, worthy of a master pâtissier, from countless images by Sigmar Polke. We have encountered layerings in the works of Robert Morris, Franz-Erhard Walther, Joseph Beuys, and Anselm Kiefer.