K. Imperial Fine Art is pleased to present Becoming Light, a new series of somatic drawings and sculptures by Renée Gertler. Using rhythm and harmony to attune to the present moment, this body of work weaves a sensory dialogue between sight, touch, and—most profoundly—sound. The exhibition will be on view from May 6 through June 16, 2025. The public is warmly invited to the opening reception on Thursday, May 8, from 5–7 p.m.

In All Readiness 2025 22.5” x 30” Flashe, colored pencil, and acrylic on paper

Becoming Light transports viewers into a realm of essential geometry. Gertler investigates how a single form can evolve through varied techniques, grids, and linework. With each iteration, the experience subtly shifts, echoing a sense of deep calm. Repeated cubes and bells in lush jewel tones form a visual language, as if mapping metaphysical, psychological, or emotional terrain. Airbrushed shapes hum with resonance, while color field backgrounds, upon closer inspection, reveal finely drawn colored pencil lines—tightly woven like piano strings, lending visual harmony. In Gertler’s sculptural works, the audible becomes tactile: clay, beads, and gemstones emphasize texture and tone. Earthy clays blend with the crystalline geometry of stones to compose a new kind of music. Across media, Gertler channels sensory elements to evoke tranquility and introspection.

Transmission 2025 22.5” x 30” Ink, colored pencil, and acrylic on paper

The genesis of Becoming Light traces back to two formative experiences. The first occurred in the 1990s, when Gertler interned at the Exploratorium in San Francisco and encountered cymatics—scientific experiments that visualize sound through vibrations in water or sand. This seeded an early fascination. Decades later, following her mother’s passing, Gertler inherited a collection of bells. The convergence of memory and resonance sparked a question: “Could she still hear the bells, even though she was no longer in this realm?” This inquiry became the heartbeat of the work, fusing scientific inquiry with spiritual resonance. Becoming Light explores this intersection, inviting both logic and wonder, structure and mystery.

Renée Gertler, a native of Santa Barbara, holds a BFA and MFA in Sculpture from the California College of the Arts. Her work has been exhibited at institutions including Southern Exposure, Eleanor Harwood Gallery, Et al., Anglim Trimble, the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), and the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery.

Becoming Light will be on view from May 6 to June 16, 2025. The gallery is open by appointment. For inquiries or to schedule a visit, please contact the gallery at kimperialfineart@me.com or 415.277.7230