A Divine Comedy, an exhibition of 10 paintings by artist Danielle Kosann, will open with an artist reception on Feb. 8 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Rosenbaum Contemporary’s Palm Beach gallery, 2 Via Parigi • Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, Fla. The reception is free and open to the public. Those interested in attending can RSVP to rsvp@rosenbaumcontemporary.com or (561) 994-9180 x201. Kosann’s works will remain on exhibit through February 29 and can be viewed during regular gallery hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Kosann creates intricate narratives, often tinged with humor and satire, within her paintings. She playfully uses references from Instagram imagery, theater, film, books and art history to create colorful, whimsical worlds that feel familiar and nostalgic while appealing to our desire to escape, whether in real life or through technology. A nod to Dante’s epic poem, A Divine Comedy, the works in the exhibition also explore the fine line between escape and excess. Kosann works large to completely immerse the viewer in each scene.
“So many of the things that feel familiar to us come from things we’ve seen online, and it becomes hard to distinguish between these images and our own memories,” Kosann said. “My intent is to transport the viewer to an era that feels nostalgic and familiar in a way they can’t identify...that also fills them with a sense of longing for a bygone era.”
Through her work, Kosann also explores the dualities of what it means to be human and the way in which, when we escape from reality, we tap into other versions of ourselves, especially when we get lost in something that brings us joy or reprieve. In this vein, Kosann often paints humans—especially the women who dominate the worlds she creates—as animal-like creatures.
Kosann is a contributing artist to Graydon Carter’s Air Mail. Her special projects include limited edition prints for The Carlyle Hotel and collaborations with luxury brands including scarves for Bergdorf Goodman and a mural for Marfa Stance. A Divine Comedy is her first solo exhibition.
“Our gallery is thrilled to be introducing the work of Danielle Kosann,” Howard Rosenbaum, Rosenbaum Contemporary president, said. “It is a perfect fit for Palm Beach."
Rosenbaum Contemporary, founded in 1979 caters to international collectors interested in investment-quality works by postwar, modern and contemporary masters and presents nationally recognized museum-level exhibitions throughout the year at its locations in Boca Raton and Palm Beach. The gallery also offers a wide range of free services to collectors worldwide including acquisition advice, art consulting, sourcing of artists, art collection building and management, and resale of select works of art.
