On an odyssey: Karl and Mary Hofmann exhibit reflects on a lifetime together, and in art

Karl and Mary Hofmann have spent a lifetime together and a lifetime involved in art.

That time together is reflected in their exhibit “Karl & Mary Hofmann: Fragments of a Childhood Odyssey” at Wild Hearts Gallery in Placitas.

“I basically do paintings which represent significant memories and events that happened to me,” Karl Hofmann said.

Karl Hofmann grew up in Germany during World War II, and memories from that time are the basis for works he painted for the show. He moved around during his life and met his wife 65 years ago while at art school.

Mary Hofmann said having the same professors and training means they think similarly about art.

“It’s nice to be able to talk (about) our ideas and struggles with art together,” Mary Hofmann said, “having the same background and having done it together for so many years.”

Where Karl paints, Mary creates pottery pieces which will be exhibited alongside the paintings.

“I’m going to have some new shapes,” Mary Hofmann said.

She said she leans toward functionality with her pieces, but is excited about the new shapes and colors she has recently developed.

Mary Hofmann has seen change over the decades.

“We came of age during the height of abstract expressionism. In some ways, it has gotten more realistic,” Mary Hofmann said.

Karl Hofmann mixes realism and abstraction, relying on memory when painting scenes.

“I prefer to paint from memory rather than looking at objects and things,” Karl Hofmann said. “Because a memory, in a way, sorts out and leaves out irrelevant items, so you get a much clearer image and picture of what you’re trying to say.”

He said good art is the process of elimination and not distracting from the main idea of what you are trying to represent.

He finds his art has helped clarify many moments in his life, seeing some things that seemed important at the time no longer are.

“You get sort of a clear picture of your past, and who you are,” Karl Hofmann said. “That has to do with getting old too, I think, when you’re 90, (you) sort of recollect and try to make sense of what you’re all about.”

Elizabeth Secor is an arts fellow from the New Mexico Local News Fellowship program. You can reach her at esecor@abqjournal.com.