Katherine Bradford: Superman Returns with Swimmers, Galerie Haverkampf, Berlin, Germany, October 11–November 17, 2018

Bradford 's paintings have their roots in abstract, gestural painting. Little by little figuration found it’s way into her work. A current new aspect, is the size of her subjects; her work was formerly populated by mainly smaller figures. Nowadays, larger shapes are often positioned prominently on the canvas. These figures do hold the paintings‘ composition.The figures themselves are striking patches of colour, which structure the image and merge it in unity: blazing magenta next to a night-sky blue, and warm yellow next to a burly red come together to embody fresh and spherical paintings. Standing in the tradition of abstract expressionism and color field painting, Bradford's paintings, filled with figures and set in motion, are reminiscent of works by Mark Rothko or Barnett Newman. They also evoke the light-flooded rooms of a James Turrell, brought to the screen, in which her protagonists capture the stage of the scene and perform peculiar choreographies.

Radical self-empowerment, superhero(ines), compassion and social cohesion are the cornerstones that make up Bradford's fantastical world. At the same time feelings of foreboding, isolation and loss are part of her lyrical and mysterious narratives as well. With a rare nonchalance, Bradford creates epic works of universal significance, and reflects, with a refreshing openness, about the issues that haunt today's society.

Bradford presents blurred spaces, areas where explicit boundaries are not known. Most impressively, she creates works of otherworldly glow. She draws scenes of the night and wraps the world in light tulle, instead of plunging into heavy darkness. Skies filled with stars shine like infinite ether and the figures dressed in hero costumes glow fluorescently. Or is the source of the light hidden under water? Exuberant and mercurial, Bradford’s faceless figures appear at peace with their surroundings. As depicted in her work, Queen of Sleep, they heal eachother. Through her pink cape and gold breasts, healing energy is radiated towards the laying figure. Or has help come too late? As seen in Distant Life Guard, the subjects take care of eachother, are holding hands and swimming in the Mid Summer Lake. These situations are still open open to interpretation. While they communicate lightness and joy, there remains a bitter, ominous connotation.

The scenes seem cryptic. As if there would be a conspiratorial reference to the fictional planet Krypton, the planet of origin of the science fiction hero Superman. Because Krypton was destroyed by a natural disaster, Superman and his cousin Supergirl saved themselves on planet Earth, where they were adopted by the Kents. Although superman and supergirl look like ordinary people, as kryptonians they have superhuman power. Katherine Bradford believes in the power of painting.


After the first presentation of a series of small-format Superman painitings in 2017, Philipp Haverkampf is pleased to present Katherine Bradford's first major solo show in Berlin SUPERMAN RETURNS WITH SWIMMERS.

Installation views of Katherine Bradford: Superman Returns with Swimmers, on view at Galerie Haverkampf, Berlin, Germany, October 11–November 17, 2018.