Couples Swim, 2016

Katherine Bradford is an American painter known for her expressive, vibrant works that often explore themes of human connection, vulnerability, and the surreal aspects of everyday life. Born in 1942, Bradford’s art gained significant attention later in her career, with her unique style that blends figuration with abstraction, often featuring luminous colors and loosely rendered figures in ambiguous, dreamlike settings. Her work frequently focuses on swimmers and bodies of water, using these motifs as metaphors for emotional states and human relationships. Bradford’s paintings are celebrated for their playful yet poignant exploration of identity, community, and the human experience, making her a distinctive voice in contemporary art.

“Couples Swim” (2016) is a prime example of Bradford’s exploration of intimacy and connection through her recurring theme of swimmers. This artwork, an archival pigment print, measures 28 x 24 inches and is part of a limited edition of 50. The print depicts two figures swimming together in a vast, abstracted body of water, rendered in Bradford’s characteristic loose, gestural style. The figures appear to float in a dreamlike space, with the surrounding water rendered in soft, blended hues that create a sense of depth and fluidity. The simplicity of the composition, combined with the expressive use of color, evokes a quiet intimacy between the figures, highlighting Bradford’s ability to capture complex emotional dynamics through seemingly simple scenes. “Couples Swim” encapsulates Bradford’s talent for imbuing everyday moments with a sense of wonder and emotional resonance.