“Time Travelers and Triptychs” showcases Leigh Behnke as a master colorist as well as a fine figurative painter while she skillfully merges individual images with light, offering a fresh perspective on canvases and panels. Her works evoke contemplation of the future by strategically placing historical artifacts in contemporary settings, reflecting on our treatment of the present, and symbolizing universal experiences with metaphorical depth.

Behnke seamlessly blends romantic and seductive lighting in her works – Time Traveler III/Ghost Ship and Ship In Snow utilize warm and cool tones to vividly depict different times of day or seasons, anchoring historical objects in forward-looking scenes.

Viewers are drawn into a world of allure and mystery, prompting contemplation of the future as inseparable from our present actions. Edith In Oregon Winter Flaneur and Furie I depict historical artifacts in contemporary settings subtly conveying Behnke’s exploration of how our present choices shape the future. Additionally, works like Flaneur and Furie seamlessly blend sculptural figures from different museums, offering a metaphorical glimpse into universal experiences symbolized by specific images or locations.

Behnke’s current work is inspired by the Master of the Furies, an ivory carver from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria, whom she considers her initial muse. This influence is evident in pieces like Behnke’s triptychs – Empire and Swerve. Transferring her inspiration on canvas, Behnke created multiple series based on historical works and locations while also drawing connections to childhood myths. The fall of Icarus, in his overzealous attempt of touching the sun, mythologizes humanity’s collective plight with the intercontinental and interconnected challenges we’ve bestowed upon ourselves––Behnke reflects on this fall by simultaneously evoking beauty and desperation.

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