Kelly ELKOWITZ

SLAG&RX New York is pleased to present Four Temperaments, a solo exhibition by Brooklyn-based artist Kelly Elkowitz. This marks her debut exhibition with SLAG&RX.

This exhibition is a testament of Elkowitz’s ongoing exploration into the intricate relationship between the internal and the external, inviting viewers to engage with the physicality of existence. The artist's process begins with found materials, intricately pressing paper together to embody the shapes of the human body. Working on stretched plastic, Elkowitz lays down transparent layers that symbolize skin, progressively adding depictions of muscles, bones, and organs—all crafted from remnants of everyday life. This meticulous layering technique culminates in a transformative process: once the layers dry, the resultant figures are carefully removed from the plastic, revealing finished forms that exist in varying stages of completion. At times, these figures stand alone in contemplation, while on other occasions, they are woven into larger, more complex compositions.

Rooted in the ancient concept of the Four Humors and reminiscent of the memento mori tradition, Elkowitz's work emphasizes the physicality of the human form. Drawing from the belief that bodily fluids determine well-being, the artist reflects on how imbalances historically influenced personality types—as excess blood evokes passion while an abundance of black bile breeds melancholy. In parallel to this ancient medical theory, Elkowitz’s exploration seeks to understand the essence of self through a physical lens, probing the question of identity and existence: why we are who we are.

Through this unique approach, Kelly Elkowitz encourages an introspective journey, inviting audiences to reconsider their understanding of the body and the complexities of the human experience.