To an artist, repetition isn’t just a survival tactic—it’s the pulse of their livelihood.
But repetition feels like such a plain, uninspired word for the raw creativity living inside a mind like Christine Knize’s. When you step into the Western Illinois University Art Gallery right now, you aren't just seeing a pattern of orchids; you are witnessing a progressive simplification. It’s the visual proof that some things are so good, they deserve to be done, dismantled and reborn over and over again until they hit the bone.
In her exhibition “Orchidelirium,” Knize takes a page out of Georgia O’Keeffe’s playbook, but adds her own persistent twist.
Much like O'Keeffe’s serial studies, Knize presents similar subjects across multiple canvases, but with dramatic shifts in color palettes that suggest the specific mood, emotion or stance she felt at the moment of creation.
It’s not just about the flower; it’s about the atmosphere of the person painting it.
