Kim Klabe’s What About the Women show opens in Maryland gallery

Local artist Kim Klabe’s exhibition, What About the Women, is on display through Tuesday, Dec. 31, at the Ferleman Gallery in Cumberland, Md.

Klabe’s show offers an in-depth exploration into the themes of femininity, resistance and the cultural dynamics surrounding the female identity. The bold, contemplative journey disrupts traditional narratives around womanhood. Using mixed media, Klabe juxtaposes gestural abstraction with layers of text and symbol, crafting pieces that engage viewers with the complexities of identity and the political struggles embedded in the female form. Her work transcends visual art, invoking powerful discourse on the spaces women occupy within both societal perceptions and their personal realities.

The exhibit opens with “Presence,” a compelling portrait that addresses the tension between visibility and erasure. The piece’s blurred edges and scribbled, partially concealed text evoke the struggles of asserting one’s identity within a society that often seeks to diminish it. Klabe’s nuanced brushwork and layering create a visual resistance that speaks to a universal female experience of struggle for recognition.

“Don’t Look” challenges viewers with its striking intensity, portraying enforced invisibility as a metaphor for societal neglect of women's experiences. By obscuring the central figure's eyes, Klabe alludes to the politics of erasure, making a powerful statement on the conditions of visibility and representation that women often navigate. The monochromatic palette intensifies the narrative of restraint and complexity.

In “Dissent/Descent,” Klabe explores the generational lineage of feminine resistance through a trio of women clad in lace collars, a nod to historical decorum juxtaposed with contemporary defiance. The spectral “Dissent” in the background reinforces a message of resilience across time.

What About the Women culminates in “Go With the Flow,” where vibrant colors and organic forms celebrate adaptability and vitality. This dynamic piece captures the essence of feminine strength as an evolving force, challenging rigid confines, and reshaping environments with grace and power.

For more information, go to ferleman.com.