Untitled (detail), n.d., oil on paper mounted on canvas, 38 7/8 x 26 inches
Throughout Madeleine Gekiere’s oeuvre, whether working in painting, drawing, or other mediums, there is a constant interest in form, memory, emotion, and text. Many of the early drawings and paintings explore modernist abstraction and feature an earthy palette of blacks, browns and tans. Later Gekiere began to experiment with assemblage, using everyday found objects including light bulbs, wood handles, toys, hosiery, and books to create witty juxtapositions. Like many of Gekiere’s works, the objects in her assemblages imply connections to figurative forms, which relate to earlier works. Gekiere’s “book assemblages” and “hieroglyphic” works demonstrate her interest in text, language, and memory. Throughout her career, Gekiere has written short stories and published many illustrated books, whereby text and book covers naturally find their place in a significant portion of her fine art work.