E.E. Kono: Conversant 

Now on view at Troutbeck, Conversant is a new show featuring egg tempera and silverpoint work by artist E.E. Kono. Presented in collaboration with the Wassaic Project, where Kono was an artist-in-residence, this exhibit will remain at Troutbeck until April 19. Best known for her brilliant egg tempera paintings, Kono combines meticulous technique with rich symbolic language, drawing from a wide array of cultural imagery. Conversant features clematis blossoms, a symbol of diversity, aspiration, and intellectual growth. These paintings are inspired by Troutbeck itself, a place where nature, community, and conversation have sparked meaningful change. Kono pulls further inspiration from Joel Spingarn, who once cultivated the world’s largest clematis collection in Troutbeck’s walled garden. Through her silverpoint work, Kono explores the quiet yet enduring power of place, using egg tempera made with powdered pigments, including color sourced from local pebbles in Dutchess County. Her practice bridges ancient traditions and contemporary themes, informed by global travel, folklore, and art history. Through this lens, Kono’s work reflects on our shared human experience and the complexities of cultural identity in an increasingly interconnected world.

Troutbeck, 515 Leedsville Road, Amenia.
—wassaicproject.org