Mokha Laget

By rejecting the traditional frame, my shaped canvases can be read as purely flat abstract works or architectonic spaces.  I look for exciting ways to solve problems of 2-D space by creating 3-D ambiguity in which the physical dimension of the object becomes a vehicle for perceptual experience. The implied architecture can evoke doorways or passages. Often, it is the contradictory light sources which  open the viewer to infinite perceptual shifts between flow and disruption. This is the geometry I am fascinated by, as a way to subvert reason or, to quote Bridget Riley, to “stimulate the mind’s eye” .

 

While my  work references neo concrete art and numerous art historical investigations, it transcends cultural and physical boundaries in a pure aesthetic experience. The  interaction of structure and color is also rooted in the chromatic legacy I inherited as studio assistant to Gene Davis of the Washington Color School, as well as my childhood in the North African desert and my home in New Mexico.

 

Each painting is developed from a library of ideas that I have collected around the world. They include vernacular architecture, remote landscapes, urban elements and the beauty of random juxtapositions. My early years as a photographer were formative in teaching me how to see those relationships. I build the shaped canvas structure once all elements are in place but color remains an unknown until after numerous tests to achieve the deeply matte consistency with the right tone, hue, contrast and vibration. 

Mokha Laget was born in North Africa, a region where radiant light and dramatic geographical contrasts left a lasting impression. After obtaining a French Baccalauréat in Philosophy, she pursued undergraduate studies in Literature and Anthropology. She majored in Fine Arts at the Corcoran College of Art in Washington DC, where she studied under several prominent members of the Washington Color School (WCS), an influential non-objective painting group whose principal members included Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, Thomas Downing, Howard Mehring and Paul Reed. During her years in DC, she continued her work as a professional artist  while working as studio assistant to WCS painter Gene Davis. From 1982 to 1991, she worked as an independent curator, and in theatre (set designer, scriptwriter, actor and director.) Her art reviews have appeared in such publications such as The New art Examiner, The Washington Review, Sculpture magazine, The Santa Fe Reporter, and THE magazine.

 

After graduating from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in 1992, she traveled the world as a simultaneous French interpreter, discovering much of Africa, Latin America and Asia. She credits these experiences as highly significant in the development of her structural and aesthetic explorations. In the mid 1990's, Laget moved to the Southwest and her painting style was accordingly impacted by the region's striking landscape. Captivated by indigenous artifacts, she began a seven year training as an art restorer while continuing her own work. In 2004, she enrolled in Graduate Museums Studies and was subsequently invited as Curatorial Assistant for the New Mexico Museum of Fine Arts. She is currently Guest Curator for the Museum of Geometric Art

 

Mokha Laget has exhibited internationally for the past 30 years, including in France, Spain, Japan, Italy, Canada, Egypt, England and the United States. Her work has been covered in Art in America, The New Art Examiner, The Washington Post, Art, Ltd, The New Mexican, THE magazine, Dallas Morning News, TREND Magazine, The Washington Review, the Santafean. Her work is included in the collections of the Ulrich Museum, The Museum of Geometric and Madi Art, Art in Embassies, The Artery Collection, The National Institutes of Health and included in private and corporate collections of national and international stature.  She lives and works in an off grid studio in the mountains of New Mexico.

SELECTED  EXHIBITIONS

             2019               David Richard Gallery, Polychrome Polygons, New York, NY

                                    Brian Gross Fine Art, Spatial Chromatics, San Francisco, CA

             2018               Louis Stern Fine Art, Recent Work, Los Angeles, CA

                                        (Catalog essay by Suzanne Muchnic)

                                    Sonja Roesch Gallery, Spatial Luminance, Houston, TX

              2017              David Richard Gallery, In Shape, In Color, Santa Fe, NM

                                        (Catalog essays by William Peterson and Nancy Zastudil)

                                    Salon des Réalités Nouvelles,  Paris, France (Oct 2017)

                                    The Colour and the Shape,  West Texas A&M University, Amarillo, TX

                                    Matter in time,  International Exhibit, Art Academy of Lecce, Italy

              2016              Color into Space, Museum of Geometric Art, Dallas, TX

                                    New Beginning: The Shape of Things to Come, Galveston Arts Center, TX

                                    Northern Light, Art in Embassies, Dept of State Commission, Mauritania

                                    Chicago Art Fair, with Landfall Press

              2015              Symphony of Color, Peyton Wright Gallery, NM

                                    Texas Contemporary Art Fair, Sonja Roesch Gallery, TX

                                    Salon d’Automne des Arts Contemporains, Petit Palais, Paris, France

              2014              Chromatic Constructs, Sonja Roesch Gallery, Houston, TX

                                    IFPDA, Landfall Press, NYC, NY

                                    Texas Contemporary Art Fair, Sonja Roesch, Houston, TX

                                    Santa Fe Art Fair, Landfall Press, NM

                                    Washington Art Matters 1940-1980, Katzen Art Center at AU Museum, DC

                                    Select Fair NYC, UNIT, Chelsea, NYC

              2013              The Enduring Modernist Aesthetics in NM, Santa Fe Arts Commission, NM

                                    Color Walk, Peyton Wright Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

                                    L’Alternative, Salon d’Automne, Petit Palais, Paris, France

              2011               Biennale of Art and Literature II, Cairo, Egypt

                                     Salon de Sarria VI, Centro UNESCO de Sarria, Galicia, Spain

                                    Tohoku Relief, Art Sun Shiwory Gallery, Kurashiki, Japan

              2010              Crux, Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico

                                    Libre comme l’Art, Salon Espace Champerret, Paris, France

              2007              Florence Biennale of Contemporary Art, Florence, Italy

                                    Color Field Remix, DCAH Public Art Commission 8^th Street NW, DC

              2006              Centre d’Art Contemporain, Chamalières, France

                                    Salon d’Automne, Espace Montreuil, Paris, France

              2002               BFA 25, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington DC

                                    Sub Rosa, Peyton Wright Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

              2000              Codes and Notations, Peyton Wright Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

                                    Salon d’Automne, Grand Palais, Paris, France

              1999              More Poetics of Noumenalism, Whelan Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

                                    Objects of Desire, David Adamson Gallery, Washington DC

              1998              Circumnavigations: Poems of Touch, David Adamson Gallery, WDC

              1997              In Print, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, NC

              1995              Gallery Selection, Troyer Fitzpatrick, Lassman

              1994              Schemata, Rosenberg Gallery, Goucher College, Maryland

              1992              Hemicycle Inaugural Exhibit, Corcoran Gallery of Art, WDC

                                    Revered Earth, American University, WDC

              1991              Morphologies, Franz Bader Gallery, WDC

                                    Gallery Artists, Gallery K, London, UK

              1990              Materia Prima, Galerie Matisse, Institut Francais de Londres, UK

                                    Archéographies, Galerie Métamorphose, Paris, France

                                    Solstice, Provincetown Art Museum, MA

              1989              Dream Poetics, The Kunstraum, WDC

                                    Three Americas, Musée du Luxembourg, Paris, France

              1988              Threads & Labyrinths, Carega Gallery, WDC

              1987              Impulse & Reverie, Carega Gallery, WDC

                                    Art of the Matter, BC Space, Laguna Beach, CA

                                    Torn Visions, Window Box Gallery, NYC

                                    Chromatic Inversions, Billman Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

              1986              Handmade Books, West Gallery, Denton, TX

                                    Four Arts, Tallahassee Institute for Contemporary Art

                                    Fiber X, The Arts Center, Iowa City, IA

                                    Del Bello Gallery, Toronto, Canada

              1984              The Ritz, NY-DC Collaboration with Gene Davis, DC

                                    InterDada, The 16^th Note, San Francisco, CA

              1981              Post Lateralism, Jack Rasmussen Gallery, DC

 

AWARDS & RESIDENCIES

              2019            Artist grant, Pollock-Krasner Foundation

                                  Artist-in-residence, Green Olive Arts, Morocco (forthcoming)    

              2018            Artist-in-residence, Sam and Adele Golden Foundation, NY

 

EDUCATION

 

          2004                University of California Hayward, Graduate Study in Museum Studies

          1992                CCI, Georgetown University School of Linguistics, Washington DC

                                  Graduate Degrees Interpreting and Translation (E-F-S)

          1982                BFA Corcoran School of Art, Washington DC

                                  DEUG Anglo-American Literature and Civilization, University of Caen, France

         Undergraduate Studies, Art and Anthropology, Montgomery College, Maryland

                        BACCALAUREAT, Philosophy, Lycée Francais, NYC, NY

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

          2015                  Pliage, Hand pulled lithograph, ed. 20, Landfall Press, NM

          2014                  Homage to the Wedge, Hand pulled lithograph, ed. 20, Landfall Press, NM

                                    Blackjack, Hand pulled lithograph, ed. 40, Landfall Press, NM

         2013                   Tupelo Press Poetry Residency, Truchas, NM

          2012                  Author, Talking art criticism with Derek Guthrie, THE Magazine/Sept. Santa Fe, NM

         2009                   Author, Catalog essay, Derek Guthrie at Finlandia University, MI

         2008                   Performer, WaterWeavingWomen, w/ D. Mazeaud & E. Wiseman, Santa Fe, NM

         2004-2012         Art Restoration Specialist, Majuka, LLC, New Mexico

         2004-6                Assistant Curator, New Mexico Museum of Art, Santa Fe

         2003-4                Archival Intern, New Mexico Museum of Art, Santa Fe

         1999                  Translator (into English) Le Livre de Saphir by G. Sinoué (Amarna Books)

         1993                  Translator (into French) Buddhism, Wisdom and Faith (Sutra Committee, Canada)

         1992-pres         International Simultaneous Interpreter- French

         1992                  Project Coordinator, Contemporary Art Exchange US/Africa

         1991                   Performer, Resonant Environment, R. Butler, McLean Project for the Arts, VA

                                    Curator, Metaphoric Structures, Strathmore Hall Arts Center, MD

         1990                  Fine Arts Instructor, Maryland College of Arts & Design

   Author, Vision and Revision in DC Art (feature), The New Art Examiner, Feb 1990, p. 30-34.

                                    Curator, Detritus & the Poetics of Noumenalism, Gallery 10, WDC

         1989-96              Independent Curator-Contemporary Art Centers & Galleries

         1991                  Author, Catalog, Metaphoric Structures: Science, Symbols & Matter

         1989                   Co Chair, The Artists Congress, National Museum of Women in the Arts

                                    CoCurator, Elegies, Tartt Gallery, WDC

                                    Co Chair-Coalition of Washington Artists, WDC

         1988                   Exhibition Specialist- National Museum of American Art & The National Learning Center

                                    Curator, Permanent Collection Community Center for Creative Non-Violence, WDC

         1986-88              PR Director, Gallery 10, District of Columbia

         1985-6                Archival Specialist-Artists Estates, Washington DC

         1984-91              Theatre: Set Designer, Performer, Stage Director, Washington DC

         1981-4                Studio Assistant to Gene Davis, Washington Color School Painter

 

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

         Color Into Space , Catalogue, Museum of Geometric and Madi Art, Dallas, TX

         Mokha Laget: Color into Space, Sarah Burgos, Dallas Morning News, July 29, 2016

         Texas Arts & Culture

         Where Magazine TEXAS

         Mokha Laget: Color in Space,  Artslant.com July  2016

         Mokha Laget’s Poetics of Color (feature), TREND MAGAZINE, Summer 2014

         Eyesight Alone: Clement Greenberg's Modernism, Caroline A. Jones, (Laget citation)

          http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/visual-arts/2014/03/14/washington-art-matters-ii-reviewed/

         Washington Art Matters: Art life in the Capital, 1940–1990, Jean Lawlor Cohen, Ed. 2013 

         Implied Spaces, Michael Abatemarco, Pasatiempo, The NEW MEXICAN, July 5, 2013

         Mokha Laget’s Colorful Works, ARTDAILY.COM, 6/6 2013

         Art in Review, Douglas Fairfield, The NEW MEXICAN, May 10-16, 2013

         Cumulus Skies, Jon Carver, THE Magazine, May, 2013

         Mokha Laget: Crux, ARTSLANT.COM, Jan 2011

         The X Factor, Rani Molla, Santa Fe REPORTER, Jan 12-18, 2011

         Alex Ross, Mokha Laget, THE Magazine, Feb/Mar, 2011

         Compelling Exhibition, Harmony Hammond, Journal North Santa Fe, Jan 21, 2011

         Top Talent, SANTA FEAN MAGAZINE, June/July 2008

         Florence Biennial, Exhibition Catalog, Nov 2007

         CBS Sunday Morning, Color Field Street Painting, August 2007

         Mokha Laget: Sub Rosa, Diane Armitage, THE Magazine, July 2002

         Salon d’Automne, Exhibition Catalog, Paris, France, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2010

         From a Hilltop to the Scenery of the Mind, Craig Smith, The NEW MEXICAN, April 23, 1999

         Maps of the Invisible, Dennis Jarrett, The Santa Fe REPORTER, Vol 25, April 1999

         Mokha Laget, by Joe Shannon, ART in AMERICA, June 1998

         Mokha Laget: Circumnavigations, JW Mahoney, WASHINGTON REVIEW, Aug/Sept 1998

         Schemata, J. Dorsey, THE BALTIMORE SUN, Aug 1994

         DC Dreaming, JW Mahoney, ART in AMERICA, Feb 1991

         Science & Art, M. Welzenbach, WASHINGTON POST, Oct 6, 1990

         The Urge to Merge, Jane Addams Allen, WASHINGTON CITY PAPER, June 8-14,1990

         Archéographies: A voyage through Time, R. Zamora, AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE, June 1990

         Conceptual Art in the 90’s, K. Holtzman, CRITICAL MASS Catalog, April 1990

         Castoffs at the Center of a Local Aesthetic, A. Thorson, WASHINGTON TIMES, Jan 11, 1990

         Emerging Art of the 80’s, Art News, 1988

         Collage, Exhibition Catalog, MARYLAND COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN, 1987