There's something inherently and even mystically distinct from what is rendered by their male counterparts when female artists turn their creative attention to females as muse and subject. The exact differences may be difficult or even impossible to detail, but when taken together and established as the focus for a single exhibition, they yield compelling insights about the undeniable power of women as artists and subjects.

The chance to experience these telling distinctions is being offered at RJD Gallery in Sag Harbor as part of the gallery's fourth annual "Women Painting Women: Our Collective Conscience." The exhibition opens on Saturday, October 8, 2016 with an Artist Reception from 6 to 8:30 p.m. It continues on view through November 20, 2016.

The exhibition features paintings by 17 artists based nationally and internationally selected from an open call that drew hundreds of submissions from around the world, according to the gallery. Many of the exhibiting artists are expected to the attend the Opening Reception on Saturday, part of a busy Columbus Day Weekend.

Now a gallery tradition, the "Women Painting Women" exhibition sometimes foreshadows artists who become gallery artists. In a nod to the occasional crossover, the fourth edition of "Women Painting Women" includes a mix of paintings by artists selected from the Open Call with female artists represented by RJD Gallery.

"This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity for artists and the gallery but also for collectors to discover emerging female talent and support the growth of these artists," said gallerist Richard Demato.

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"Conservation of Energy" by Julie Beck. Oil on panel, 10 x 12 inches. Courtesy of RJD Gallery.

"Conservation of Energy" by Julie Beck. Oil on panel, 10 x 12 inches. Courtesy of RJD Gallery.

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Exhibiting artists selected for "Women Painting Women: Our Collective Conscience" include Suzanne Anan, Buket Savci Atature, Donna Bates, Julie Beck, Audrey Bell, Melinda Borysevicz, Larisa Brechun, Kimberly Dow, Lisa Fricker, Tanya Harsch, Brianna Lee, Shana Levenson, Hilary McCarthy, Ana Medina, Omalix, Nadine Robbins and Elizabeth Zansinger.

Gallery artists with works on view in the exhibition include Katie O'Hagan, Odile Richer, Jennifer Gennari, Margo Selksi, Pamela Wilson, Candice Bohannon, Margaret Bowland, Teresa Elliott, Adrienne Stein, Rachel Moseley and Charlotta Janssen.

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"Designing Perilous Futures" by Teresa Elliott. Oil on linen, 12 x 24 inches. Courtesy of RJD Gallery.

"Designing Perilous Futures" by Teresa Elliott. Oil on linen, 12 x 24 inches. Courtesy of RJD Gallery.

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Despite the running theme, each "Women Painting Women" exhibition is distinct from its predecessors. This is due, in part, to the unique lineup of artists. Each exhibition typically features new artists to the themed exhibition. There are two exceptions in the 2016 edition:  artists Omalix of South Florida (Quizás Mañana, 2016) and Shana Levenson of New Mexico (Just the Beginning). Click here to see their art.

The other quality that makes each exhibition distinctive stems from the art itself. Art made by females does not share connections due to gender in its choice of subject, style, muse or inspiration. As such, each artwork is varied within the parameters of figurative art made by painters with females as the subject. These difference are noted by the gallery through its title. This year, the title is "Our Collective Conscience." Last year, the title was "Women Painting Women: The Tales We Tell Together." In 2014, the sub-theme was noted simply by "Women Painting Women: The Show."

The concept for "Women Painting Women" exhibition did not originate with RJD Gallery but was inspired by a blogspot of the same name. Gallery owner Richard Demato had attended a "Women Painting Women" exhibition and was then approached by artist Terry Strickland to host a show at his Sag Harbor gallery. With a gallery program that already had a majority of artists who were female, Demato felt there was synergy with the concept, he recalled. (Demato also has four sisters). The first "Women Painting Women" exhibition was held at his gallery in 2012 and has been returning strong each year since then.

"The single subject of women speaks in volumes," stated Demato about the theme. "History has portrayed women in a variety of ways—often objects of beauty to be admired—but when women paint other women there is a unique voice that is shared."

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"Red Balloon" by Ana Medina. Oil on panel, 21 x 28 inches. Courtesy of RJD Gallery.

"Red Balloon" by Ana Medina. Oil on panel, 21 x 28 inches. Courtesy of RJD Gallery.

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The paintings on view include portraits, self-portraits and works with a strong narrative component. Painting styles range from Classical Painting styles to abstract figuration and paintings that make use of surrealism. Light-hearted intimate moments are captured as well as moments of psychological tension or pensive contemplation. Prices are welcoming to entry-level collectors as well as collectors confident with well-placed acquisitions to add to their collections.

Following is a small selection of the art and artists exhibiting in "Women Painting Women: Our Collective Conscious." The exhibition is on view at RJD Gallery from October 8 to November 20, 2016.

Buket Savci Atature

Born in Turkey, Buket Savci Atature studied painting at Mimar Sinan University of  Fine Art in Turkey and moved to New York City where she graduated from Pratt institute with a BFA and an MFA from the New York Academy of Art. Now based in Brooklyn, Atature exhibits nationally and internationally. Her paintings capture relaxed and intimate moments where the everyday realities of the world is far away and moments of close connection are captured and implied through limbs in connection. At RJD, Atature exhibits the single painting Chain.

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"Chain" by Buket Savci Atatüre. Oil on canvas, 52 x 70 inches. Courtesy of RJD Gallery.

"Chain" by Buket Savci Atatüre. Oil on canvas, 52 x 70 inches. Courtesy of RJD Gallery.

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Melinda Borysevicz

Melinda Borysevicz was born and raised on Long Island but currently lives and works in Southern Italy. After receiving her BFA in Painting from Savannah College of Art and Design, Borysevicz founded a school in Savannah. More recently, she moved to Italy near her ancestral home where she paints full time. Her Contemporary Realism paintings have a strong narrative surrealism aspect, especially when figuration is featured. In the "Women Painting Women" exhibition, Borysevicz exhibits two artworks Fisherwoman and Fisherwoman 2.

 

"Fisherwoman" by Melinda Borysevicz. Oil on linen, 24 x 24 inches.

"Fisherwoman" by Melinda Borysevicz. Oil on linen, 24 x 24 inches.

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"Fisherwoman2" by Melina Borysevicz, 2016. Oil on linen, 24 x 24 inches. Courtesy RJD Gallery.

"Fisherwoman2" by Melina Borysevicz, 2016. Oil on linen, 24 x 24 inches. Courtesy RJD Gallery.

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Brianna Lee

Brianne Lee's art represents a continuous search for the intrinsic beauty of all life surrounding the artist, according to her artist statement. Inspired by Dutch master painters including Vermeer, Rembrandt and Rubens. Lee studied painting at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art (LAAFA) and in the atelier of Adrian Gottlieb. She received her BFA from Laguna College of Art and Design. In her art, classical painting meets contemporary realism through details that may not be obvious at first glance. At RJD Gallery, Lee exhibits the single painting Portrait of Liz.

 

"Portrait of Liz" by by Brianna Lee. Oil and iron pigment, 16 x 20 inches. Courtesy of RJD Gallery.

"Portrait of Liz" by Brianna Lee. Oil and iron pigment, 16 x 20 inches. Courtesy of RJD Gallery.

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Elizabeth Zanzinger

Elizabeth Zanzinger manifests restraint channeled through simplicity and thoughtful mark making. Working directly from life with direct observation an important aspect of her process, drawing plays an important role as the foundation for her paintings, according to her artist statement. Zanzinger studied classical painting at the Aristides Atelier in Seattle (Gage Academy of Art). Her current art explores the relationship between humanity and nature as consuming forces in everyday life, according to her artist statement. Zanzinger exhibits the single painting Columbida in "Women Painting Women."

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"Columbidae" by Elizabeth Zanzinger. Oil on panel, 20 x 16 inches. Courtesy of RJD Gallery.

"Columbidae" by Elizabeth Zanzinger. Oil on panel, 20 x 16 inches. Courtesy of RJD Gallery.

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Donna Bates

Donna Bates lives and paints in Los Angeles. In the early '9os, Bates broke barriers by becoming one of the few women to work in the 3d animation/VFX field. From there, she became one of the only women to teach CG Modeling at Gnomon School of VFX, according to her resume. In Donna Bates's art, she combines her skills as a commercial illustrator and 3D artist to create paintings that channel fashion, pop iconography and street culture into paintings that are uniquely her own. Bates exhibits two artworks at RJD Gallery: Book Girl and American Woman.

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"American Woman" by Donna Bates. Acrylic and oil on linen, 36 × 48 inches. Courtesy RJD Gallery.

"American Woman" by Donna Bates. Acrylic and oil on linen, 36 × 48 inches. Courtesy RJD Gallery.

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Remarking on the "Women Painting Women: Our Collective Conscience," Demato pointed out that the show not only reveals a snapshot of the current state of painters working in contemporary figurative realism today but provides insights into the different muses influencing female painters today.

"Every serious artist is compelled to paint, and some question the source or origin of the thoughts that come to them, as they struggle with the cathartic experience of turning emotions into color and brushstrokes, and cleanse their soul," he said. "Only then can they feel complete, as this is their chosen form of communication, and feeds their human need to connect. Their courage to ignore trends and simply follow this instinctual desire, creates exceptional artwork. We are proud to share these pieces of their soul. “

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BASIC FACTS: "Women Painting Women" is exhibited from October 8 to November 20, 2016. An Opening Reception will be held October 8, 2016 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. To view the art in the exhibition, click here or here. RJD Gallery is located at 90 Main Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11963. www.rjdgallery.com.

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Copyright 2016 Hamptons Art Hub LLC. All rights reserved.

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