In Boundary, Gregory Kitterle plays with verticality and spatial tension using fresco on panel, creating a visually striking piece where structure and nature intersect. The composition is dominated by a large, vertical form—perhaps an obelisk or monument—emerging from a rugged, mountainous landscape. The fresco’s textured surface emphasizes the rough, worn quality of both the natural and constructed elements in the painting. The contrast between the bold vertical shape and the surrounding landscape creates a sense of tension, as if the boundary suggested in the title refers to both a physical and metaphorical division between human intervention and the natural world.
The arched top of the panel reinforces an architectural feel, reminiscent of ancient altarpieces or stained glass windows. The muted colors of blues, greens, and grays are punctuated by red lines that seem to bind the composition together, introducing a dynamic element that suggests movement or containment. These lines, along with the vertical monument, add a sense of restriction or separation, as if delineating spaces within the scene.
Kitterle’s Boundary invites comparison to the works of artists like Nicolas de Staël, who similarly used abstraction to explore landscape through a blend of structured and organic forms. However, Kitterle’s use of fresco sets his work apart, emphasizing texture and surface irregularities that bring the composition closer to an aged, weathered artifact. The roughness of the fresco’s surface enhances the idea of boundaries—where things meet, wear down, or are transformed over time.
The title Boundary suggests both a literal and metaphorical interpretation. The monument-like structure could represent a division between past and present, natural and man-made, or even a boundary within the self. Kitterle’s unique ability to convey these layered meanings through surface, texture, and form makes Boundary a compelling piece, urging the viewer to contemplate not just the visual boundaries in the work, but also those that exist in the world and within ourselves.
