KIEFERART FINE ART UP CLOSE

"Anthony's Altered States"
Oil on canvas, 20" x 24"

$400 (US customers only) PURCHASE INFO

The empty, darkened display windows of the former Marshall Fields building on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis provided a perfect reflective showroom for the many colorful self watchers on that odd sunny 70-degree November day. I happened to be across the street and noticed her. How elegant and flowing she was. (My "Downtown Uptime" and "Invisible" paintings were inspired by other interesting people I saw in that same location earlier that day.)

So why was she sporting a thick fur coat and hat in 70-degree weather? "Because she could" I think is the best answer. It was a charming sight seeing her deep in thought, admiring her tasteful work.

A couple of hours later, I saw her again, this time on my side of the street, headed straight for me. As she passed I detected the strong scent of alcohol, a bit of a list in her gait, a whispered one-sided conversation and, to my surprise, serious gender bending. My heart melted. It sent home the message that we all do what we have to do to feel right with the world.

I did change her face a bit in the painting (she was lost in the crowd before I could get permission to use her likeness), but it's pretty close. My hope was that this image might generate a myriad of stories for its viewers as it did for me. But so far the only comments I've received, even though validating, refer to the "lovely-woman-admiring-herself-in-the-window" painting. But that's okay. She would've loved that.