The subjects in “Portraits in Passing” are the people of the street — those encountered in daily life yet often overlooked: the wanderers, the unhoused and the forgotten. Through Tallahassee-based artist A.E. Kozeliski’s brush, these fleeting figures become thought-provoking reflections of contemporary society.
Rather than traditional portraits, they capture a moment in time, revealing glimpses of humanity that might otherwise go unnoticed. As Kozeliski notes, “I have embraced an ancient art form and through the depiction of contemporary subject matter I have made it my own while respecting its traditions.”
Opening in the Balcony Gallery for Florida Artists, each work invites viewers to engage personally and to find their own stories within the faces and gestures portrayed. As subtle details reveal themselves, the once unseen become visible, gaining presence and dignity through the artist’s hand. Rooted in the ancient traditions of Chinese brush painting, Kozeliski’s process draws on the discipline’s four foundational strokes, techniques that require mastery of brush pressure, water-ink balance, and handmade paper selection. Painting in the Mogufa (“boneless”) style, she captures not physical likeness but the energy, or qi, of her subjects. Composed without backgrounds, these minimal yet expressive portraits allow a simple line or gesture to suggest place, emotion and humanity.
(pictured) “Purple Rain,” Chinese brush painting on Double Xuan using Eastern watercolors and Japanese “Sumi” ink, 22 x 27 in., On loan from the artist.
Artist Talk and Demonstration
Saturday, April 4, 1 p.m.
Join Kozeliski in the auditorium on the April 4 Free First Saturday for a talk on the works featured in “Portraits in Passing.” Learn about her contemporary Chinese brush-painting techniques and enjoy a live demonstration. Free; no reservations needed to attend.