Middle Tennessee-based artist Katelin Schutt’s oil paintings on canvas capture rites and rituals performed by female figures swallowed by shadows and lit by fire. These works swirl with chiaroscuro mysteries and campfire smoke between dancing, crouching and gesturing characters in narratives that evoke ancient recollections of caves and firelight, and the birth of religion and creative consciousness. Schutt is largely self-taught and smartly leans into a style that might resemble an Italian comic book from the 17th century. I’m calling it Baroque ’n’ Roll. The works themselves are titled with alchemical terms, elemental references and names from the Greek pantheon. Schutt’s dramatic compositions and historical references combine in a show that feels simultaneously timeless and up-to-the-minute, reminding viewers that our individual struggles with personal growth and change are also our most human and universal.
Opening reception 7-9 p.m. April 18; through May 16 at Electric Shed
254 Morton Ave.
