The artistic practice of Sydney Hunter Kleinrock (1996, Long Island, NY; lives and works in Brooklyn) is distinguished by her innovative use of quilted fabric as the support for her paintings. This material gives the works an unusual thickness while introducing a tactile and playful dimension that contrasts with the traditional formality of painting. The choice of quilted fabric encourages viewers to perceive the materiality of the work beyond the image itself.
In the work Blocs Exquis, the artist creates cubes inspired by children’s toy blocks, decorating each side with different motifs. As the title suggests, the formal reference recalls the game of Exquisite Corpse, in which each participant contributes phrases or drawings to a folded portion of paper before passing it to the next player. The result is a surreal and fragmentary composition built from contributions that may initially appear unrelated, yet together form a collective and playful narrative.
Each panel of the cubes draws inspiration from natural and everyday imagery: elements from the plant and animal world mingle with objects from daily life. Kleinrock has stated that she often paints from direct observation or from photographs taken in her home or around Brooklyn.
The artist’s palette is characterized by the use of complementary colours—such as green and red—which intensify the visual impact through vibrant yet balanced contrasts. On the cube, the main images are framed within circular borders that concentrate the viewer’s attention. Within them we can glimpse a cow, a bird, a traffic light, a candle, a padlock, botanical details, and other fragments that seem unrelated at first glance.
What ultimately brings these disparate elements together into a coherent story is imagination: first the artist’s, who arranges and paints them, and then the viewer’s, who mentally recomposes them through the playful device of toy blocks, drawing on childhood memory. In this way, the work invites active participation and opens up multiple readings, each capable of generating its own narrative.
Sydney Hunter Kleinrock, Blocs Exquis, 2026, Oil on quilted canvas, stainless steel, thread, 11 in x 17.5 in x 6 in.
07/03/26
