Featured Artist Ingrid Ludt

Minimalist painter Ingrid Ludt shares a collection of works that show her exquisite sense of color. See more from this artist by visiting her website.

 

 

I’ve been an artist my entire life. For me, making art is not just a creative pursuit; it’s a practice, a process, and a way of living. It’s a journey that’s filled with change, and I’ve come to realize that change is not only inevitable but also essential to artistic growth. Over the years, I’ve gone through numerous phases, as most artists do. Change has become a constant companion in my artistic exploration, and I’ve learned to not just accept it but embrace it wholeheartedly. Redefining oneself is an artist’s birthright.

 

 

My journey has been marked by a significant transition from being a painter to becoming a sculptor and, ultimately, finding my way back to painting after a fifteen-year hiatus. This transformation was not a linear process but rather a series of evolutions, like the ever-changing forms in art.

 

 

Fifteen years ago, I entered graduate school with a passion for painting. However, as life often unfolds, my artistic path led me to explore sculpting. I spent many years casting multiples of natural objects for site-specific installations, and this phase was an essential part of my artistic journey. It allowed me to understand the physicality of form and space in a way that only working three dimensionally could.

 

 

Yet, deep down, the urge to paint again never left me. It simmered below, waiting for the right moment to resurface. It took many years to arrive at a style of painting that felt authentic to who I am now.

 

 

My previous work had been gestural and abstract expressionistic, a style reminiscent of artists like Frankenthaler, Hans Hoffman, and DeKooning. While it had its merits, I knew it was not how I wanted to approach painting anymore.

 

 

The transformation from abstract expressionism to minimalism was a profound shift for me. It wasn’t just about changing styles; it was about simplifying everything about painting. The gestural brushwork gave way to the use of rollers and flat planes of color. My style became more refined, defined and simplified. I embraced minimalism as my new artistic identity.

 

 

In my recent work, I’ve delved into the magic of color and its emotional impact, fusing it with the simplification of form. The result is a balance that allows just the right amount of information in each piece, conveying the tone that represents the subject matter. In this approach, color is not just a component; it is the very form and tone of the piece, embodying its essence.

 

 

My art is no longer about isolated pieces; it’s about the relationships between them. I work in multiples, embracing the sequential aspect of my work. There’s movement and connection between the pieces, a sense of change and evolution. It’s a reflection of life itself, an intricate web of relationships that work together to create a meaningful whole.

 

 

Through my artistic journey, I’ve learned that change is not a hindrance but a catalyst for growth. It’s the force that has propelled me from one artistic phase to another, enriching my work and my perspective. As I continue to evolve as an artist, I find solace in the idea that redefinition is not just natural; it’s an integral part of the artistic process, a journey that’s as beautiful as the art itself.

 

Ingridt Ludt invites you to follow her on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.

 

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