Merry Karnowsky Gallery is proud to present Lezley Saar's latest exhibition Monad. In this exhibition, Saar brings vibrant color and her classical Victorian figures into concepts of philosophical truth and metaphysical reality.  

Gottfried Leibniz defined Monad as "an unextended, indivisible and indestructible entity that is the basic or ultimate constituent of the universe, and a microcosm of it."  

Lezley Saar's latest exhibition, "Monad", depicts mixed media paintings of Victorian women traversing the galaxy on colorful, human-cell planets. The women's expressions in Saar's mitochondrial universe are tinged with melancholic resignation. Both the reversal of scale and a contradictory sensation of stillness while traveling through space prevails in the stories of these fictitious, cell-bound ladies. Pairing these women from a bygone era with the minutely detailed, quasi-technical renderings of magnified human cells evokes an equilibrium upheaval. Using a disparity of mediums (fabric, acrylic paints and digital photos) augments the Surrealism in the composition.  

This series stems from mysticism and metaphysics, specifically Madame Blavatsky's "Secret Doctrine" published in 1888, which espouses the belief that the microcosm and macrocosm are connected. From the individual human cell, to a human being, to earth, to the solar system, to the universe, there lies a common paradigm of a living organism. In other words; as above so below.  

There are also several collages depicting surreal, biological musings that explore the theme of the interconnectivity between all beings.  

Saar's works have been exhibited extensively in the United States and abroad. Her commitment to candid expression through art has earned her, among other awards, the J. Paul Getty Mid-Career Grant and the inclusion of her works in the California State Senate Contemporary Art Collection. She has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Artforum and many other publications.


Concurrently on view is the much anticipated group exhibition featuring Caleb Brown, devNgosha, Hell'O Monsters, Seonna Hong, Travis Louie, Nathan Ota and Masakatsu Sashie; Parallel Universe.

Sometimes complex and ambiguous surrealism speaks most clearly to the reality we experience everyday. In the exhibition 'Parallel Universe' a group of 9 artists have delved into the dark and engaging space of alternate worlds, portraying unusual settings and fantastic scenes in a retro-modern style. Tapping into the influence of modern technology in the age of media takeover, these pieces hold a contorted mirror to the world in which we live.

Imaginary spaces filled with oddities, mythical creatures, and a personalization of machinery, wash through the canvases to create a compelling tapestry of the modern age. Many of these artists have incorporated technological signifiers into the landscapes of their environments, examining how innate it has become to our everyday lives. Pieces can be viewed as a cultural allegory, reflecting the artist's interpretation of the world today, prompting a personal reflection on the part of the viewer. Nature is also present, entangled in sweeping brushstrokes and tangled abstraction. Each artist has been influenced by several factors in the process of creating these pieces. Graffiti artistry, Japanese history, and American Popular Culture are just a few of the outstanding themes expressed in varying degrees. Step into the multiple universes – both layered and parallel to our own - that these artists have opened the doors to.

For more information, please contact Merry Karnowsky at mkgallery@att.net, (323) 933-4408

Press Contact: Jessica O'Dowd jessica@mkgallery.com