Joe Karlovec (b.1986)
Read all Over, Cover to Cover, Drum Solo, (2018)
Materials and Dimensions: Silicone, latex, joint compound, and paper on canvas, each 24" x 24"
Location at Summa Health: Arch Street entrance to Akron City Hospital, left of the information desk
About the Art
Generously donated by the artist, these three works by Joe Karlovec are striking examples of pure abstraction—paintings that do not depict recognizable subjects but instead invite viewers to engage with the composition, texture, and movement within each piece. Much like an intricate musical composition, these works unfold dynamically, revealing depth and rhythm through layers of material and deliberate gestures.
Karlovec’s approach is rooted in a tradition of modern abstraction that has evolved over more than a century, beginning with early pioneers such as Wassily Kandinsky and Hilma af Klint. His work follows in the lineage of American abstract expressionists like Jackson Pollock yet takes a distinct turn by incorporating unconventional materials. By using joint compound—commonly referred to as "mud" in construction—he challenges traditional notions of painting, blurring the lines between painting and sculpture. The thick, troweled layers of this industrial material create a striking physicality, with gestural marks that emphasize movement and texture.
Each of the three panels presents a unique structural emphasis:
- Read all Over (left) highlights horizontal motion.
- Cover to Cover (center) explores verticality.
- Drum Solo (right) introduces diagonal energy, adding a sense of dynamism.
Beneath the textured white layers, Karlovec has deliberately obscured vibrant latex colors, allowing only glimpses of the underlying hues to emerge—an interplay between concealment and revelation. This layering technique, coupled with the material’s weight, gives the works a sculptural presence that asks viewers to consider the physical and temporal aspects of their creation.
About the Artist
Karlovec’s artistic journey has taken him from his roots in Columbus, Ohio, through a background in interior architecture at the Cleveland Institute of Art and an MFA in painting from Kent State University. Now based in Palm Beach, Florida, he continues to push artistic boundaries, describing his current work as "industrial woven photo-collage," incorporating photography, digital manipulation, and hand-cut elements into complex compositions. His work has been exhibited internationally, from South Korea to Toronto, as well as in major cities across the United States.
At Summa Health, these paintings serve as an invitation to pause, observe, and appreciate the intricacies of texture, movement, and materiality—an experience that mirrors the creative process itself.