Kantrowitz’s new series of paintings is titled “Daughters of Leucippus,” and is a close and precise observation of the fibers, tissues and corpuscles of torn fruit and vegetables. In the paintings, fruit acts as a surrogate for the human body bringing all its implied seduction, destruction and regeneration. To make this substitution more explicit, the artist has borrowed the title of a Peter Paul Rubens painting, “The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus” from 1618. In Kantrowitz’s series, the translucency of fruit flesh and the papery skin of a garlic bulb are given the same painterly attention as Rubens’ daughters. They are expressive forms captured in motion. In these paintings, the viewer is invited to look beyond a literal description of torn fruit to see what else can be discovered. Kantrowitz’s large oil paintings evidence a passionate embrace of traditional materials and techniques as well as precise and intense observation of the subject.

Andrea Kantrowitz completed her undergraduate education at Harvard University, earned her MFA at the acclaimed Yale University School of Art and recently completed a doctorate at Columbia University. She is a professor at Tyler School of Art, an author, and has led workshops internationally on drawing and cognition.