Nina Klein’s Blue Nudes
Nina Klein is a multidisciplinary artist living and working in Santa Monica, California, who creates minimal figurative drawings and sculptural, impasto, and abstract paintings that explore the human condition. Klein utilizes a variety of materials to create her lines, shapes and sculptural texture, including pen, pencil, digital drawing tools, oil paint, plaster and metal wire. Through her work, she highlights and advocates femininity as an aim to create a shift in the social construct of the inferiority it holds against masculinity. Her work embraces all the various seasons, shapes and spaces of a woman’s life.
With her blue nude palette and minimal timid lines, Klein’s work is introspective and powerful as she highlights and strengthens the softness and vulnerability of the female silhouette. Read on to gain further perspective into an artist who is not afraid to embrace the strength of the female gaze.
What motivates you to create?
Creating, for me feels like a meditation. When I get really deep into creating something I go into a zone where my thoughts disappear. The calming feeling that comes with immersing myself in the work is addictive.
I also feel motivated to create to live as an example for other women to see that our points of view and voices are important and valid in the art world.
What is one artist living or dead you feel a great connection to? Someone who’s work has inspired your own practice and what you’re creating these days?
Although the work we create is vastly different, I feel deeply inspired by Neri Oxman. I love how she uses biology and technology to create art and architecture with. She’s not afraid of trying new things.
What’s something we wouldn’t know about you by looking at your IG page?
You probably wouldn’t know that I love watching reality shows like The Housewives. I’m guilty!
Tools or mediums you’d like to experiment with?
I’m eager to work with plexiglass, lights, and possibly 3D object printing. I’m interested in eventually learning new technology and seeing how I can evolve my work.
Silence or sound while creating? If sound, what are you listening to right now?
I can work in silence but I prefer to listen to music! I’m currently listening to The Devotion album by Beach House.
What makes you laugh no matter what?
The Office.
Name your favorite female artist.
I have two: Neri Oxman and Mary Corse.
What makes you excited about the future?
I think we are slowly moving in a direction of gender equality which is encouraging and that excites me. Also, I’m constantly thinking about projects I want to make so the future is full of possibilities that motivate me!
What is your approach to color?
I give myself parameters when I use colors because otherwise I feel overwhelmed by the options. I work really well when I have guidelines to follow. Furthermore, I rarely use more than three colors. One can get an entire spectrum of color by mixing two opposite colors and white.
