Artospective: Inflorescence by Soey Milk - Her New Exhibition at Corey Helford Gallery.

Soey Milk_‘Sādhanā’ (oil on linen, 48 x 60 inches).

On Saturday, September 8, artist Soey Milk will premiere her second solo show with Corey Helford Gallery: Inflorescence. In over 20 new paintings and drawings, Milk captures the most significant moments and eras from the timeline of her life, embodying them as vibrant portraits of some of her friends. Acclaimed singer-songwriter Royston Langdon, formerly of Spacehog, will perform under his solo moniker LEEDS at the opening reception.

inflorescence

in·flo·res·cence \ ˌin-flə-ˈre-sᵊn(t)s \

a : the mode of development and arrangement of flowers on an axis

b : a floral axis with its appendages; also : a flower cluster

c : the budding and unfolding of blossoms : flowering

Since embarking on her career as a visual artist, Milk’s works have served as markers in the timeline of her life, with her ability to summon memories of all the major (and small) events happening, at the time she was creating them. In Inflorescence, the history of her work and the word’s various meanings collide with the pieces of art unfurling as chapters from the floral axis of her life, embodied as a bouquet of ethereal portraits that anchors her narrative as she created this new body of work.

An obsessive sketcher and doodler, for the first time ever, Milk will be showcasing the initial seedling drawings and ideas that would later blossom into some of her best-known paintings.

“Usually I will start with an idea and an image, then I spend a good amount of time creating a drawing of it,” says Milk. “These studies often serve as blueprints for my paintings. I work in many layers and glazes, and often on three or four paintings simultaneously. Usually my process will slow down significantly near finishing, then the tweaking hour comes where paintings are revisited and fine tuned until we are all happy.”

Inflorescence will also continue experimentation with embedded objects as a medium in her work, with painted-over wallpapers and fabrics comprising the background of some of her paintings, pulled from the rooms they were created in. In one piece, a feather from her chicken spontaneously made its way onto the canvas and was sealed in place by a layer of paint.

Soey Milk is one of the young artists who has already made a name for herself not only in the United States but in the international art world. A graduate of Art Center in Pasadena, CA, Milk has carefully developed her inimitable style over the years becoming known for her portraits of truly alluring and beautiful women. Drawing a lot of inspiration from her South Korean heritage, she creates refined paintings and drawings which have the great balance between the sharp focus of the charming subjects and the vivid chaos of the background.

Since embarking on her career as a visual artist, Milk’s works have served as markers in the timeline of her life, with her ability to summon memories of all the major (and small) events happening at the time she was creating them. In Inflorescence, the history of her work and the word’s various meanings collide with the pieces of art unfurling as chapters from the floral axis of her life, embodied as a bouquet of ethereal portraits that anchors her narrative as she created this new body of work.

Soey Milk’s Inflorescence will open Saturday, September 8 with an opening reception from 7pm - 11pm in the Main Gallery. The reception is open to the public and the exhibit will be on view through October 13. The space is open Tuesday - Saturday, 12pm - 6pm. Corey Helford Gallery is located at 571 S. Anderson St. Los Angeles, CA 90033.