Opening September 9 at Pioneer Works: Anya Kielar: Shadow Box Shadow Box is Red Hook-based artist Anya Kielar's (@anyakielar) first institutional solo presentation, comprising a set of newly commissioned shadow box sculptures, her largest to date, that delve into the portrayal of female subjects through the aesthetic device of shallow relief. The consistent thread through Kielar's references is the intent to approach the human body as a vessel that can change shape to meet the cultural tides around it. She bases her figures on archetypes, such as the Muse or the Amazon, that have lingered through the ages and inspired constant reinterpretation. In focusing on these classic roles, Kielar brings the viewer’s attention to the complex dynamics of strength, beauty, vulnerability, sex, and heroism that have always circulated around female identity. She opens a larger discussion around the constant expansion of expectations placed on women and their bodies, and the effect that these changes have on their perception of themselves. an overall effect of a figure that ripples between abstraction and representation. Read more about the show at the link in our bio, and subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on what's upcoming at PW. 💌 Curated by Gabriel Florenz (@gabriel_florenz) with Vivian Chui (@vwchui). Image: Anya Kielar, The Charmer, 2022. Courtesy of the artist and Rachel Uffner Gallery.