"Life On Mars" Madeleine Tonzi

Hashimoto Contemporary is pleased to present Life On Mars, the debut solo exhibition featuring new paintings by Oakland-based artist Madeleine Tonzi. Blending delicate organic forms and crisp lined architectural structures, each of the artist's surreal paintings create a peaceful landscape that exist beyond time. 

Glen Albrecht's concept of Solastalgia, a feeling of longing or mourning from the loss of ones environment and sense of home, has been a longstanding touchstone in Tonzi's work. A palpable sense of reverence and love for the natural world can be found throughout the artist's work. Tonzi states, "Specific colors and shapes symbolize the changing climate and its affects on the psyche in connection to our relationship with land.  Florescent red bars throughout my paintings serve as a metaphorical thermometer, reminding us of the rising temperatures and impending catastrophe that are already upon us."

Tonzi's Santa Fe roots can be found in her sunrise color palette and the forms strewn across her desert landscapes. Reflecting on the year's isolation and the wildfire induced red skies across the Bay Area and west coast, the artist "underscores how surreal this experience we are living through is, and to remind us of the importance of protecting what we love, while extending the exploration of boundaries and perceived freedoms within." Each piece is a portal into a scene that exists as a fond memory of place, the current state of the world and a hopeful look to the future. 

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, there will be no opening reception for the exhibition. The gallery will be open by appointment only. To book an appointment, please email sf@hashimotocontemporary.com. An Instagram live walk through of the show is scheduled for Saturday, November 7th and will include a tour of the exhibition and interview with the artist.