Kelly Saunders doesn’t just paint what she sees — she paints what she hears. In her new solo exhibit The Sound of Color, on view at the AC Hotel’s Capella on 9 rooftop bar through July 25, the Asheville-based artist transforms decades of live music experiences into bold, abstract works full of rhythm and emotional resonance. “Music has a unique power to transcend boundaries, and my paintings are my way of sharing the emotions I feel when I hear a song…,” Saunders shares in a press statement. “I believe that inspiration for the visual arts is everywhere — you just have to listen for it.” A self-taught painter working mostly in acrylics, Saunders sculpts her compositions using palette knives and unconventional tools. According to advance press, “This tactile, almost musical approach to painting mirrors her belief that each piece reveals its true self as it evolves — just as music unfolds in unpredictable, thrilling ways.”
The Sound of Color: Through July 25; Opening Reception: Tuesday, May 13, 5-7pm
Capella on 9 at the AC Hotel / 10 Broadway St., Asheville / kellysaundersart.com