chashama invites you to celebrate the opening of Karen Mainenti's solo exhibition, The ABCs of Plastic Surgery, on view from September 5-21, 2014.

The ABCs of Plastic Surgery is a frolicking assortment of artwork inspired by plastic surgery images, Barbie dolls, lipstick colors and idiomatic phrases that come together to create a humorous, disturbing and incisive commentary on the modern American woman’s role as an object of desire in contemporary culture. 

Mainenti uses a range of mediums including traditional painting, women’s makeup, iron-on transfers and iconic toys. Much of the text and imagery are appropriated from advertising and media, which are reframed to show the absurdity, artifice and unnatural expectations of femininity that society has come to accept as ordinary and reasonable.

“Karen Mainenti’s humorous painting[s]… capture the conflict and dichotomy of color and the sexes.” —Patternpulp.com

Opening wine reception: Sept 5, 6-8pm
Gallery open hours: Sept 6-21, Saturdays and Sundays 12-5pm and by appointment, kmainenti@gmail.com.