Well before she died in 2000, her work was exhibited around the world, but was never bought by major New York museums for their permanent collections. Reynolds Gallery however has been a devoted supporter, showcasing her work in four solo exhibitions. The gallery’s current display samples Matthiasdottir’s work from as early as 1946. In some of these early pieces it appears that the artist flirts with a watered-down cubism, while in others, she proves her skill with a more academic approach to realism. Throughout the work, which spans almost 50 years, Matthiasdottir delights in painting the illusion of form in its purest sense.

— Paulette Roberts-Pullen

Paintings by Louisa Matthiasdottir’s can be seen at Reynolds Gallery, 1514 W. Main St., through Aug. 23.