As Above, So Below: Niki Keenan’s "Meeting Place" at SJIMA
- SJIMA
- Mar 30
- 2 min read
Step into a space where the celestial meets the terrestrial at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art.
Niki Keenan’s latest exhibition, Meeting Place, invites viewers to contemplate the dynamic relationship between the sky and the Earth. Through her striking diptych sculptures, Keenan explores the infinite connections that exist within and around us.
In Meeting Place, hourglass-shaped configurations rise and suspend, with the upper and lower sections converging at a single point. Stars from the Milky Way and our own Sun serve as symbolic guides, illuminating the pathways of cosmic and earthly communication. The sculptures reflect the concept of "as above, so below," a theme Keenan draws upon to evoke the continual dialogue between the heavens and our grounded existence.
Her use of color and form transforms the gallery into a space of reflection. Wrapped in vibrant canvas paintings, the sculptures display abstracted landscapes that shimmer with the brilliance of refracted light. Through this interplay of texture and hue, the exhibition captures the awe-inspiring energy found at the intersection of the infinite and the physical.
Since 2022, Keenan has developed this distinctive sculptural language, using the hourglass as a symbol of convergence. Through her works, she invites visitors to pause, connect, and consider the profound beauty that arises when opposing forces meet.
About the Artist
Niki Keenan’s artistic journey is deeply rooted in her connection to nature. From the verdant forests and waterways of the Pacific Northwest to the ever-changing hues of backyard sunsets and sunrises, Keenan captures the essence of these awe-inspiring moments. Her paintings, rich in the colors of the visible spectrum, reflect a sense of belonging—a communion between human experience and the natural world.
Working primarily with acrylics, she paints abstracted landscapes that evoke the sensation of being immersed in vibrant, refracted light. Her work is an exploration of presence—a dialogue between the viewer and the landscape, between the self and the infinite.
In Conversation: Niki Keenan on the Inspirations Behind "Meeting Place"
Step inside the Atrium Gallery with artist Niki Keenan as she shares her thoughts on the cosmic connections and creative process that shaped her exhibition, Meeting Place.
Watch this 4-minute, 55-second video to hear Niki Keenan discuss the inspirations
and stories behind her captivating cone-shaped sculptures at SJIMA.
For more information about Niki Keenan and her work, explore the following links:
Make a day of it at SJIMA and experience all three of our Spring 2025 exhibitions! Learn more about the full lineup here. The museum is open Friday through Monday, 11 AM - 5 PM.
SJIMA’s Spring 2025 exhibitions are made possible through the generous support of our in-kind sponsors: Printonyx, Harbor Rental, Browne's Home Center, and Ogle Painting.
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