[My Business is Circumference]\, a solo exhibition of new paintings by Chicago-based Venezuelan artist Jeffly Gabriela Molina\, will be on view at Kruger Gallery Chicago\, \;3709 N Southport Avenue\, from \;May 15 \;&ndash\; \;June 27\, 2015.

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Molina employs \;trompe-l&rsquo\;oeil to develop fanciful perspectives\, architectural passages\, and curious environments as she conceptually considers the plurality of female identity. \;Specifically\, she reflects on both\, Venezuelan and US cultures to question notions of \;womaness\, and to further understand not \;the complexities of interpersonal relations\, but the effects culture and society provoke on \;one'\;s \;relation to oneself and to reality. \;

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Inspired by Emily Dickinson&rsquo\;s 1982 letter to T.W. \;Higginson\, Molina considers each painting to be a part of a larger narrative that delves deep into personal and universal interpretations of the female experience. By further exploring the traditions of female writing in English\, she has transformed some of her favorite literary works into visual paraphrases\, likening individual artworks to stories\, poems\, essays and letters. The objects and figures&mdash\;the patterns within&mdash\;and the structure \;of her paintings embrace the &ldquo\;hidden&rdquo\; to juxtapose outward appearances \;with a psychological awareness. \; While Molina&rsquo\;s painted surfaces are complex and sometimes obscure\, they possess amusing qualities that makes them even humorous. \; According to gallery director\, \;Mikelle \;Kruger\, &ldquo\;Molina&rsquo\;s paintings are accessible\, personal\, sophisticated and vulnerable engaging a viewer in an intimate way much like one is engaged when curled up with a good book.&rdquo\;

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According to prominent Chicago art collector\, Larry Levy\, speaking at an Art Institute panel on serious art collecting\, &ldquo\;It is fun and interesting to discover a brilliant\, emerging\, affordable artist like Jeffly Gabriela Molina. \; We own more of her wonderful paintings and sculptures than any other artist.

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Jeffly Gabriela Molina was born San Cristobal\, \;Tachira\, Venezuela in 1989. \; She came to the United States in 2007 to attend the New World School of the Arts and to help her aunt with her restaurant in Miami\, Florida. \; While there\, a prominent Chicago family discovered Molina&rsquo\;s paintings\, and they subsequently sponsored her \;BFA \;studies at the Art Institute of Chicago. In 2013\, she was commissioned by The Rebury South Beach to permanently install her sculpture Nest at the southwest corner of \;18^th \;Street and Collins Ave in Miami Beach\, and her work is part of several private collections. \; She is currently a first-year MFA candidate at the School of the Art Institute and is expected to graduate in 2016. \; For more information about Molina or her work\, visit \;www.jefflyart.com.

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There will be an opening reception for the artist \;on \;Friday\, May 15 \;from \;6 PM \;- \;9 PM. \;