Sabine Dehnel and  Heidi Lender

Skirts
January 13 – Fenruary 24

Three framed photographs displayed on a gallery wall, each illuminated by individual spotlights, with a central image featuring a person in white attire.
A bare, textured wall with the text "Skirts: Heidi Lender + Sabine Dehnel" in black font, centrally placed, with a strong contrast against the pale background.
An art gallery interior with white walls displaying various framed artworks, illuminated by ceiling spotlights. A blue bench and a small table with reading material are in the foreground.
A modern art gallery with white walls featuring a variety of framed photographs hung at eye level. The spacious room has soft lighting and a grey carpeted floor.
A bright gallery corridor displaying a framed photograph of a cactus on a TV, hung on a plain wall, with soft lighting and the shadowy outline of a person visible across other artworks.
A modern art gallery with four framed photographs evenly spaced on a white wall, illuminated by ceiling spotlights in a dimly lit room.
A woman in a brown dress stands behind a small dog on a wooden cabinet, surrounded by decorative items, including vases and a unique wall clock. Only her torso and legs are visible.
A quirky art piece featuring mannequin legs wearing high heels atop a pink table, with a dog and a small chair beside them, against a patterned wallpaper backdrop.
A woman in denim shorts and a blue cardigan stands holding a book, flanked by two small dogs seated on rustic red cinema chairs, against a colorful, aged wall.
A silhouette of a person standing on a stool in a dimly lit room, arms extended, with a bowl of scattered flower petals below them. The scene conveys a serene, almost ethereal atmosphere.
A woman standing at the edge of a vintage wooden bed, holding glasses in her hand; a plush dog toy sits on the bed. The room is decorated with globes and rustic furnishings.
A woman in a green ballet costume with a tutu, seen from behind, sits against a white background. Her hair is styled in a bun, and a floral arrangement is visible to her side.
A woman in a lace dress stands by a translucent curtain with patterns, her face obscured by the curtain, leaving her identity hidden. The contrast of light and shadow divides the image.
A woman in a green dress stands at a balcony railing, looking out over a forested landscape in the morning light. She has her hands in her hair, enjoying the tranquil view.
A woman in a pale green dress stands partially visible through the rounded door of a vintage silver trailer, facing away. The trailer's window reflects her figure and raindrops speckle its surface.
A woman wearing a pink top and a white skirt with red polka dots stands by a vibrant blue shoreline. Her face is out of frame, and a faded wooden pier extends into the sea in the background.
A person in a blue top and floral skirt stands beside a handrail with a painted backdrop of a wooden pier and ocean waves.
A woman, shown from the waist down, stands by a railing against a backdrop with a painted ocean wave. She wears a yellow top and a black and white floral skirt, holding the fabric of her skirt in one hand.
A person wearing a red top and a white skirt with yellow polka dots stands beside a body of water, with a bridge visible in the background. The setting suggests an artistic, surreal portrayal with vibrant colors.
A close-up of a rain-speckled Airstream trailer window, revealing a blurred view of a green cushion inside, set against a sleek silver exterior.
Art gallery interior featuring visitors viewing artwork, with a refreshment table in the foreground displaying an assortment of snacks and a vase of flowers.
People viewing various framed photographs displayed on white walls in a well-lit art gallery. Several visitors are scattered around the room, some closely examining the artworks.
Two people observing framed photographs on a gallery wall, one individual is pointing at a picture while the other looks on. They carry bags and stand in a warmly lit indoor space.
People viewing various artworks in an art gallery with white walls and soft lighting. Some visitors are standing and looking at the pictures, while others are engaged in conversation.
People viewing artworks at an art gallery exhibition. Some visitors are walking and others are seated, with blurred motion suggesting activity. Artworks hang on well-lit walls.
An art gallery event where visitors are viewing photographs displayed on walls while some converse in groups, with a refreshment table in the center.
Two people engaged in conversation in an art gallery, surrounded by photographs displayed on the wall, with a third person observing the art.
Visitors viewing framed photographs in an art gallery, with each person standing and observing different artworks on white walls under soft lighting.
Visitors viewing artwork at a gallery exhibition, wandering and discussing art pieces displayed on white walls under soft lighting.
People viewing artwork at an exhibition in a gallery with well-lit framed photographs on the walls. Some attendees are standing, while others are examining the art closely.
People viewing and discussing artwork in a gallery, with focus on one individual pointing at a framed photograph on the wall.
People viewing photographs at an art gallery exhibition.
People gather and converse at an art gallery opening, with artwork displayed on the walls of a well-lit corridor. There is a refreshment table in the background.
Visitors viewing various framed artworks in a well-lit gallery with white walls and a central seating area with modern chairs.
Visitors viewing artworks at an indoor art gallery exhibition; some are walking while others stand and observe, with a table of refreshments in the foreground.
A person in winter attire views three framed photographs of a figure by the beach, displayed on a white wall in an art gallery.

Press Release

Richard Levy Gallery is pleased to kick off 2012 with Skirts, a two person exhibition of artwork by Heidi Lender and Sabine Dehnel.  In her two series Once Upon and Green Dress, Lender turns the lens on herself, creating playful self-portraits of varied lives, personas, and eras. Dehnel’s series Rock investigates variations on colors, patterns, and textures in a hybrid mix of photography and painting. Each of these photographers bring fresh twist to contemporary portraiture and suggested narrative in their chic playful portraits of headless women.

Heidi Lender’s series Once Upon is an in depth look into playing dress up in a pastiche of dress and style.  What started out as a simple project, “stand on a bench and wear something pretty”, quickly took on a life of its own.  Through careful use of clothing, props, sets, and accessories,  Lender leads us through the decades.  Lender’s dog Bubba, a timeless character,  is present in most of the Once Upon images.  In Green Dress the camera follows the narrative of an elegant woman in a garish vintage mint green frock, who lives in a bucolic setting.   Lender combines her passion for clothing and photography, crafting intricate visual photographic compositions. She splits her time between Northern California and Garzon, Uruguay. 

German photographer Sabine Dehnel takes a more conceptual approach and explores the space between photography and painting in her series Rock (German for skirt). In this project her constructed painted background and the pose of the model remain the same.  Distinction comes from the skirt of the figure which varies within each image. The fabricated background and the model’s heavily painted skin read as a painting at first glance. Upon closer inspection, the detailing in the skirt and dimension in the figure reveal the photographic medium. Dehnel marries the concepts of photography and painting and finds the space between.


High-resolution images are available on request. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook: @levygallery 

Dates: January 13–February 24, 2012
Reception: February 4, 6–8 pm
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 11 am–4 pm
Location: 514 Central Avenue SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Contact: 505.766.9888, info@levygallery.com, www.levygallery.com @levygallery

Artwork and Information
Heidi Lender