Sally King Benedict
October 20, 2009
I’ve taken plenty of art history courses in my day, but I still judge a painting most often by my gut reaction—the emotions it wells up within me. These paintings by Sally King Benedict have me head over heels with their bold strokes and feminine color palette. They remind me of a free-spirited, female Rothko (not surprisingly, Benedict credits Rothko’s work as a major influence). A graduate of the College of Charleston, Benedict’s first exhibit was “inspired by the natural beauty of South Carolina Low Country and the urban sharpness of New York City.” While living in Manhattan last year I took a vacation to Charleston and was immediately smitten with the distinctive southern landscape. I am in awe over the success Benedict’s work has had in walking the line between the chaos of the metropolis and the charm and comfort of the south. Oh and on a side note, did I mention she has an old letterpress in her studio? Clearly our kind of gal.
