Hovering between energy and mass in nine rooms of the Palazzo Pisani (S. Marina) is a solo exhibition of brand new ‘almost objects’ by the Scottish artist Karla Black. Intimately and painstakingly worked in situ into exquisitely detailed aesthetic forms, a still raw vastness of pure material and colour fills this 15th century Venetian palace. These abstract sculptures – pulverised, atomised, piled, layered, supported, suspended and spilled out onto the floor – offer a visceral experience of absorption in the material world. The artist’s professed love of powders, pastes, creams, oils and gels is in evidence here.

Exhibition Dates

June 2 2011 to November 27 2011

Location

Palazzo Pisani

Profile

Karla Black

Karla Black prioritises material experience over language as a way to learn about and understand the world. Her sculptures are rooted in Kleinian Psychoanalysis, and in formlessness as it has been understood at specific moments in art history. Read more

8 July 2021 — News

Fruitmarket unveils with a retrospective of Karla Black

New warehouse space at Fruitmarket. Karla Black : sculptures (2001–2021) details for a retrospective 07.07.21–24.10.21 Photo: Tom Nolan

Congratulations to Edinburgh's Fruitmarket which has reopened this week after a £4.3m redevelopment project to refresh its existing galleries and expand into the warehouse space next door. We are delighted that the Fruitmarket launches with a major retrospective exhibition of over 30 works, including some major new commissions, by renowned Scottish sculptor Karla Black. Read more

5 May 2011 — News

Karla Black and Martin Boyce nominated for the Turner Prize 2011


Two Scotland + Venice artists nominated for the Turner Prize 2011. Both Karla Black whose is presenting work for Scotland + Venice at the Venice Biennale this year and Martin Boyce whose work was show in the context of Venice in 2009 are nominated for this years prestigious prize. Read more

1 April 2011 — News

Fiona Bradley on Karla Black


This is a recording of Fiona Bradley, Director of The Fruitmarket Gallery talking about artist Karla Black's work in the context of Scotland + Venice. https://soundcloud.com/fruitmarket/fiona-bradley-on-karla-black Karla Black has been chosen to represent Scotland at the 54th International Art Exhibition at the Venice Biennale, the world’s largest and most prestigious showcase for contemporary visual arts. Read more

2 January 2011 — News

20/11 Vision


“In mid-June, the art world will decamp to the Venice Biennale, ……. and the brilliant Karla Black promises a show of uncompromising and experimental sculpture for Scotland.”  Moira Jeffrey Read more

2 January 2011 — News

Material Girl


But this June at the Venice Biennale, the global showcase for the visual arts, Black will have the biggest show of her career so far.  A solo presentation for the Scottish Pavilion in the atmospherically faded Palazzo Pisani, it will be curated by the Fruitmarket Gallery’s Fiona Bradley and backed by the combined might and […] Read more

Profile

Karla Black

Karla Black prioritises material experience over language as a way to learn about and understand the world. Her sculptures are rooted in Kleinian Psychoanalysis, and in formlessness as it has been understood at specific moments in art history. Read more