I surprised myself at how much I loved this show, “I’m Bart Simpson, who the hell are you?” I’ve never been a diehard Simpsons fan, but you didn’t need to be. It was an entire show of butts, neon colors, and some pretty fabulous mushrooms.


Acrylic and spray paint on canvas
120” x 248 in
“The secret of the paintings is that Bernhardt allows paint to do what paint does: puddle and swirl, cover and glow with transparency. The paintings display confidence over a range of sizes, from the intimacy of a small watercolor to the 120 x 248-inch tour de force “I can’t promise to try, but I’ll try to try”. By making the paintings face-up on the studio floor, gravity has left the canvases and cosmic weightlessness has been let in. The drawing is direct and to the point. Bernhardt isn’t seduced by virtuosity, nor does she mimic anyone else’s style. Her one-of-a-kind technique allows raw associations to tumble out of her spray can and brush with élan.” (Canada)

Acrylic and spray paint on canvas
48” x 60 in

Acrylic and paint on canvas
48” x 60 in

Acrylic and spray paint on canvas
120” x 95 in

Acrylic and spray paint on canvas
120” x 96 in
Canada has a lovely space across the street from their main gallery that had several small works on paper, along with this fun wood cutout piece.

Acrylic on paper
This small acrylic and spray paint on canvas piece below was hanging above a couch. I had seen so many large butts, that this looked rather abstract. I really liked it.

Acrylic and spray paint on canvas
20” x 24 in
It was a last stop of a long day of shows for me. I went home and made my husband come back that day to see it before we left town. I never disappoint him with art I think he must see. Katherine Bernhardt never disappoints either.

“Katherine Bernhardt (b. 1975, St. Louis, MO) lives and works in St. Louis. Bernhardt has exhibited extensively in New York and abroad at venues and institutions including David Zwirner, London; Xavier Hufkens, Brussels; Shinji Nanzuka Gallery, Tokyo, Japan; Art OMI, Ghent, NY; Carl Freedman Gallery, London; the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth; and the Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis. Her paintings are held in public collections including the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA; the High Museum, Atlanta; the Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, DC; the Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME; the San Antonio Museum of Art, TX. She also runs Dragon Crab and Turtle, a gallery in St. Louis. Bernhardt is represented by Canada and David Zwirner.” (Canada)