After growing up in the grays of the Pacific Northwest, artist Camille Patha ventured to Arizona for college and was immediately struck by the vibrancy of the desert.
Arizona was on fire, the desert was on fire. It was orange,red, gorgeous deep purple. It never left me, color has always been mine. It has always belonged to me.”
Patha showcases her outstanding mastery of color in Camille Patha: Passion Pleasure Power, the latest exhibit in her successful career as an artist now showing at the Tacoma Art Museum. The exhibit includes 50 pieces from the last three years and a short documentary, Camille in Color, created by Seattle filmmaker David Wild.
Patha’s distinct abstract style is wonderfully displayed with provocative interpretations on an array of themes including water, days of the week, and sensuality. Her work invites the viewer to think and feel deeply beyond the physical board and to feel the power of painting.
“I want them [paintings] to be alive and to be able to reach out and grab the viewer . . . and bring the viewer deep into the painting and make it their own, and make it become part of them,” Patha said. “They are painted with such intensity that they can’t help but reach out and grab people.”
Patha creates this depth through lightness and darkness on the canvas, shown in many of the paintings in the exhibit that come to life against a black background. The vibrancy of the artist herself shines through the collection and is especially enjoyed through the short documentary showcasing Patha in her studio, in her element.
“I make paintings because they are waiting for me,” Patha said in the documentary. She is undaunted by a blank canvas, empowered by her control of the art. Her talent and passion for color is evident in the exhibition.
“I’m at the top of my game . . . and extremely proficient. It’s the pinnacle of my career,” Patha said.Camille Patha: Passion Pleasure Power is on extended view at the Tacoma Art Museum from March 4 to September 3,2023.
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Tacoma Art Museum