“Marge had her usual breakfast and then she took her usual measurements” by Amy Evans
Thursday evening I attended a reception for artist Amy Evans at Kiehl’s. Her brightly colored paintings on wood are on indefinite display.
Her work is unusual. Considered a surrealist she strives to document moments in time, mostly from her imagination and beginning with a specific object such as a vintage package. When the package or product is rendered in combination with other seemingly mundane objects such as bobby pins, combs, fabrics, or jewelry they are transformed into portraits, illustrating a woman who is part of the artist’s narrative.
And while the paintings are “surrealist-inspired” Amy is represented by Koelsch Gallery, Houston’s most important stable of “Outsider” artists, though Amy has had formal training in both high school and college. In fact, the exhibit at Kiehl’s is a joint venture between the retailer and Koelsch.
Recently at Koelsch Gallery, artist Amy Evans 2nd from right
I remember when Kiehl’s was a counter at Neiman Marcus where I’d get lip balm—little did I know that it started as a homeopathic pharmacy in New York in 1851. Now in Houston, it’s a whole new slick and shiny corner storefront in the high-rent Highland Village Shopping Center.
Amy’s work fits well into the retail shop. The walls of Kiehl’s are covered with shelving for emollients, lotions, and shampoos, not leaving much space for art. But her paintings tend to be small and vertical. Small pieces can be had for about $500 and range up to approximately $2,000.
Kiehl’s is located at 4076 Westheimer, at the train tracks…