Daphne Minkoff explores unconventional beauty in her mixed media paintings of vacant houses and buildings in the ever-changing landscape of Seattle. Many of the boarded-up structures the artist has captured have since been demolished and replaced by sleek, multi-use facilities and condominiums, all in the pursuit of urban density. This transformation raises questions about whether what is being lost surpasses what is being built. The artist shares, “I reflect on the duality of the meaning ‘Façade,’ as both the front of a building but also as something false or superficial. The idea that a home or structure is fleeting, and merely provides the illusion of safety and protection, is something I think about a lot - all things in life are in a constant state of flux-there are only moments of stability.” In her paintings, Minkoff examines an awareness of what it means to wait, to confront change, and perhaps even a tangible sense of hope for what changes may bring once the waiting is over.
Minkoff’s artistic process utilizes torn images from older photographs, constructing the armature or structural foundation of the composition from these fragmented pieces. Her approach evokes a profound sense of the passage of time, a controlled chaos, and a personal narrative embedded in the delicate balance of a fleeting moment. The vivid colors draw the viewer in, only for closer inspection to reveal surprises, disappointments, or even moments of recognition. The torn fragments symbolize the fragility of memory and experience, suspended in a precarious state that teeters on the verge of collapse or implosion at any given instant.
Daphne Minkoff received her BFA from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, and an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, with honors in painting. She has received numerous awards, including the Juror's award from the Whatcom Museum in Bellingham, Washington. She currently teaches painting and drawing at North Seattle College. For two decades, Minkoff exhibited at Linda Hodges gallery. Her exhibition, Façades, was the artist’s first solo show at Harris Harvey Gallery in 2024.