Artist Anne Finkelstein Brings NYC Streetscapes to Ki Smith Gallery

New York City serves as both the subject and the primary inspiration for artist Anne Finkelstein, whose latest works are set to appear in a juried group exhibition at the Ki Smith Gallery starting August 8, 2026.

Finkelstein, who balances her creative practice with teaching roles at the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Parsons School of Design, employs a meticulous process to translate urban environments onto canvas and aluminum. Her method begins with street photography, capturing patterns, light, and shadows throughout the city. These photographs are then synthesized into digital collages using Photoshop, which serve as the foundational references for her paintings.

To transfer these complex compositions, Finkelstein prints the digital collages to scale and uses carbon paper to trace the lines onto her chosen surface. This labor-intensive preparation reflects her background in graphic design, a discipline she notes informs the structure of her paintings. While her work may appear to some as photo-realism, Finkelstein clarifies that her intent is to capture the physicality of the medium and the subjective experience of viewing an object from multiple perspectives, a concept she links to the principles of cubism.

"It’s a representation of how we construct our visual experience in our heads," Finkelstein said of her approach. She often spends months on a single piece, refining details and color until the work feels complete. Her husband, painter James Acevedo, also documents the city, though Finkelstein notes their artistic focuses differ, with her work emphasizing structural elements over the human figures often found in Acevedo’s pieces.

Beyond her personal art, Finkelstein maintains a career as a graphic designer for various museums and galleries. She credits her early morning studio sessions—often beginning at 5 a.m.—as essential for maintaining her creative output alongside her professional obligations.

Those interested in viewing her latest contributions can attend the opening reception at the Ki Smith Gallery. Further information regarding the event and additional examples of her portfolio are available through the gallery’s website and the artist’s personal digital channels.