Katrin Fridriks

Katrin Fridriks (b. 1974, Iceland) is an abstract expressionist painter whose work prompts urgent questions surrounding new technologies and the polemics of contemporary scientific research. Through her pieces, Fridriks explores ways in which she can contribute to the controversial and political conversations that shape our society today. 

Drawing on the dramatic landscapes of her Icelandic roots—volcanoes, geysers, and glaciers—Fridriks channels the elemental forces of air, fire, earth, and water into dynamic compositions that remind us of the important role nature plays in our everyday life. Indeed, many of her paintings appear as if she has poured molten metal with a gentle swiftness across her prepared canvas. The result is a textural kaleidoscope of bold colors that invite the viewer to imagine the continuation of motion in her images. 

Her recent work showcases an artistic evolution through the adoption of a new colour scheme. Showcasing hues of copper and gold, her Stargate series evokes a metallic allure of alchemical transformation. The liquidity and malleability of acrylic in her compositions express movement akin to magnetic frequencies and cosmic energies. This dynamic body of work confronts viewers with the idea of Stargates—microscopic black holes that could lead to shortcuts through space and time. Combining the energetic, active drip techniques characteristic of the abstract expressionist period with her own refined precision, Fridriks creates kinetic abstractions of amplified rhythm and boldness.