Karli Henneman gives a small gathering of forms room to hold our attention. In K.506, dark circles and an expansive oval rise and fall along a central axis. Their clear edges meet a softly varied, earth-toned ground. The composition feels measured, yet its surface carries a more organic rhythm: subtle marks and tonal shifts remain visible around the shapes.
The presence of sand
Based in Los Angeles, Karli explores abstraction through a minimalist vocabulary. Her Sand Orb series combines acrylic paint and sand on canvas, using dense texture to bring a physical dimension to the painted surface. The simplicity of the forms makes us more attentive to these material qualities. A circle has a shape we immediately recognize, while its texture invites a closer, more patient look.
Karli draws inspiration from time and decay, allowing paint to move organically over controlled line work. That meeting of structure and variation is visible across the three paintings. K.506 gives black shapes a strong presence against a lighter ground. In K.497, muted brown forms emerge from a darker surface. K.503 places pale ovals and circles within a restrained range of sandy tones, encouraging the eye to notice small differences.
A rhythm of shape and space
All three works were created in 2025. K.506 and K.503 measure 41 × 55 inches, while K.497 measures 24 × 30 inches. Across these canvases, the spaces between forms help establish their rhythm. A small circle can draw the eye upward; a broad oval can slow its movement. The empty surrounding areas become an active part of how each painting is experienced.
Karli has exhibited in solo and group shows in Los Angeles and New York City. Her exploration of positive and negative shapes continues through a practice grounded in serene tonal shifts and visual harmony.
The Sand Orb paintings ask for a kind of attention that develops gradually. Their forms are clear at first glance, but their surfaces remain rich with variation. As we spend time with them, the relationship between sand, paint and space becomes increasingly present, offering a quiet encounter with the possibilities contained in a few carefully considered shapes.
Contact the artist: karli-henneman.com
More artists: IRIS FLUIDISM: Love in a Language of Flow · Igor Osipov: The North Held in Light and Silence · Submit your work to ArtTour International
