The Delaware Division of Arts Mezzanine Gallery will offer a solo exhibition entitled Stone Formations by Kira Krell from May 1 through 29. An opening reception is planned on May 1 from 5 to 7 Pm at the gallery, which is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 North French Street in Wilmington.
“Stone Formations guides viewers from volcanic deserts to coastal shorelines through a series of layered, relief-like paintings that trace geological time and place,” Andrew Truscott, Program Officer, Marketing and Communications, of the Delaware Division of the Arts, said. “Krell builds her surfaces by combining sand, plaster and earth pigments, adding, subtracting and distressing these materials to achieve textures that appear weathered and time-worn. Intricate details emerge through dry brushing and mark-making with acrylics and pencils, revealing the inner structures of the geological forms she studies.”
As a counterpoint to the pace and instability of contemporary life, Krell offers an impression of steadiness and belonging. She has long been fascinated by permanence and strength conveyed by natural landscapes. The exhibition invites viewers to pause, breathe and reflect on the enduring presence of the physical world.
Based in Townsend, Krell’s practice centers on multi-layered surfaces and material exploration. She was born in 1973 in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany, growing up in a creative family that valued hands-on making. Krell spent more than a decade traveling internationally as a missionary which she says gave her experiences that continue to shape her connection to the physical environment.
Krell began painting during the COVID-19 pandemic after challenging herself to try drawing. She began by working with watered-down craft paint, a pen and an empty CD sleeve, creating her first line-and-wash work. That experimental process led her to canvas and to her current abstract style. Since formally developing her practice in 2021, Krell has refined her work through specialized workshops and ongoing research into historic materials, including plaster and earth pigments.
Krell’s first solo exhibition, Beauty in Brokenness, was at the Newark Arts Alliance Gallery in 2024. Her work has been shown at the Bethany Beach Arts Festival and in group exhibitions at the Newark Arts Alliance. Krell is the recipient of the 2024 Artist Opportunity Grant form the Delaware Division of the Arts and the Delaware State Arts Council. Her paintings are held in private collections in Europe and across the United States.
The Mezzanine Gallery is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 Am to 4:30 PM. The gallery highlights the work of Delaware’s Individual Artist Fellows, showcasing a diverse range of artistic talent throughout the year. For more information, visit them online.
