ARDEN + WHITE GALLERY is delighted to usher in 2025 with Wandering in Reverie, a captivating duo exhibition that brings together the works of Brazilian artist Graziela Guardino and Brooklyn-based artist Senem Oezdogan.
Wandering in Reverie is a contemplative exploration that invites viewers to question perceptions of reality and abstraction, seamlessly bridging the gap between the tangible and the intangible. The exhibition fosters a dynamic dialogue between two distinct artistic practices, each engaging with dimension and precision through their unique approaches to medium and form. The harmonious contrasts between Guardino’s material-focused deconstructions and Oezdogan’s fluid, painterly rhythms evoke a dreamlike state, where precision meets fluidity and abstract forms come to life in a realm of meticulous artistry.
Marking her debut exhibition with ARDEN + WHITE GALLERY, Graziela Guardino delves into themes of minimalism, deconstruction, and materiality through her distinctive use of pulled and often painted linen canvases. Her work presents a meticulous interplay of fragmented canvases and flowing linen strands, reassembled into sharply defined, elegant compositions. Some pieces curve in ways unfamiliar to traditional canvases, while others expose fractured surfaces held together by the very linen that envelops and connects individual panes. Focusing on singular colors and shapes, Guardino’s practice celebrates the purity of form and the tactile essence of her materials. A sense of femininity permeates her work, manifesting through color, shape, and the delicate nature of her creations.
In striking contrast to Guardino’s textile-based work, Senem Oezdogan’s practice embraces both precision and fluidity, combining clean, uninterrupted lines with dynamic, wave-like painted forms. Her vibrant color palettes and rhythmic compositions cultivate a sense of harmony and movement, drawing viewers into an immersive visual experience. Oezdogan’s work celebrates the interplay of control and spontaneity, rendering her abstractions simultaneously structured and lyrical. Often blurring the boundaries between reality and abstraction, her pieces captivate viewers with her masterful blending of color and shadow to create dimensional forms that transcend the surface of the canvas. Her exacting technique conveys an effortless sense of motion, evoking the sensation of being carried along a current of color and form. Oezdogan’s work invites you to question whether you are witnessing something tangible within the abstract forms that converge on her canvases.
Though their approaches differ, Guardino and Oezdogan’s works resonate in their mutual pursuit of clarity and intentionality. Wandering in Reverie creates a dialogue between these two artists, where Guardino’s material-focused deconstructions meet Oezdogan’s fluid and vibrant rhythms. Together, their works draw viewers into a state of contemplative wonder, captivating the imagination with the interplay of form, color, and movement. The result is a harmonious interplay of contrasts that not only redefines the boundaries of abstraction but also celebrates the transformative power of artistic reverie.
Graziella Guardino (b. 1979) earned her Master of Fine Arts with distinction from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia and her Bachelor of Visual Communications from Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado in São Paulo, Brazil. Guardino has participated in prestigious residencies, including the Institute of Contemporary Art Residency at La Salle College, Singapore, and the Bundanon Artist-in-Residence Program in Sydney, Australia. Her work is held in prominent collections such as the Alessandro Stein Collection in Milan and Los Angeles, the Institute of Contemporary Art in Singapore, and numerous private collections across Australia, Brazil, London, the United States, India, Saudi Arabia, and Hong Kong.
Senem Oezdogan (b. 1980) is a Brooklyn-based painter whose work explores the visual phenomenon of optical illusion through color, form, and contrast. She earned her M.A. from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and is a graduate of FIT in New York.
Oezdogan’s paintings feature smooth gradients that lend a sense of volume to bold shapes, engaging the viewer in the interplay between perception and reality—what the mind knows versus what the eye sees. Her work is included in notable collections such as Sotheby’s, Bank of America, and The Barings Art Collection.
