https://tessfinkelstein.com
Back and Forth 2018-2019
Ink, Acrylic, Charcoal on Variating Papers
50 in X 40 in and variable
Back and Forth 2018-2019 (Detail)
Ink, Acrylic, Charcoal on Variating Papers
50 in X 40 in and variable
Portraits Of 2019
Digital Collage Print out on Paper
60 in X 120 In
Portraits Of 2019 (Detail)
Digital Collage Print out on Paper
60 in X 120 In
Foundation of Wood 2019
Paper collage on two pieces of Wood
24 in X 32 in
NYC Shul: Ornamentation 2018
Acrylic and Oil on Canvas
24 in X 18 in X .5 in
NYC Shul: Windows 2018
Acrylic, Oil, watercolor on Canvas
15 in X 15.5 in X .5 in
Tattoo 2018-19
Oil, Acrylic, Ink on Studio Wall
84 in X 60 in X 10 in and variable
Artist Statement
I use my artistic practice as a way of documenting my surroundings and personal
explorations in a cartographical lens. My work investigates my identity and the identity of
places. I use cartography as a platform for exploring my knowledge of a place and my
connection to specific spaces. My painting and drawings are saturated with densities of
detail, interlaced with patterns, systems, iconography, architecture, and observation. My
work plays with perspective, and often spills across multiple pieces of paper in distorted
panoramas, allowing for a frameless process.
I began to think about religion and my heritage and how that affects my decisions and
artistic practice: A reoccurring subject in my work is my Jewish Identity and the spaces,
items, and symbols that are associated to my Judaism. I started going back to synagogue
services and I rediscovered my infinity for religious architecture which led me to creating
my Synagogue series. Pattern design is also very prevalent in my work because it visually
and metaphorically symbolizes the reoccurring aspects to religion, architecture, and my day
to day practices.