"Petite Adagio in Burnt Umber" Acrylic, Oil Pastels, Pencils in Browns 60"x48"

"Petite Adagio in Burnt Umber" 2025, 60" H x 48" W. Abstract, mixed media painting consisting of acrylic, pencils, and oil pastels on canvas by Argentine-born artist Karina Gentinetta (featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, New York Times, Traditional Home, Veranda Magazine, Luxe Interiors, and in Introspective Magazine, among others.) "Petite Adagio in Burnt Umber" is a richly layered abstract painting featuring sweeping, gestural swirls in a palette of deep browns, warm raw sienna, and soft whites, evoking the slow, deliberate tempo of an adagio—both contemplative and emotionally charged . Expressive carbon pencil markings weave through the composition, introducing rhythm and depth. Rooted in earthy tones, the piece evokes the quiet intensity of a musical adagio—measured, introspective, and emotionally resonant. “Petite Adagio in Burnt Umber” is a refined continuation of the larger painting “Adagio in Burnt Umber,” 72" x 60" (1stdibs Ref: LU1149116436472) echoing its expressive movement and earthy, gestural strokes, while standing as a distinct work in its own right. This piece offers the same emotional cadence and rich tonal complexity—layered umbers, siennas, and graphite markings—but in a slightly more intimate scale, ideal for collectors and designers seeking the impact of abstract expressionism in a smaller format. Executed on raw canvas, the composition balances improvisation with control—an interplay of fluid drips, scribbled lines, and dynamic marks that conjure both energy and introspection. The work is signed by the artist and presented in a raw, unfinished poplar wood floater frame that complements its grounded, organic aesthetic.

Karina Gentinetta's vast and audacious canvases are inspired by her home city of New Orleans. A litigator for thirteen years, Gentinetta found herself at a crossroads after losing her family home and the majority of her possessions during Hurricane Katrina. Turning to art and design for solace, the self-taught artist was inspired to leave her law practice to pursue her creative passions in the shocking aftermath of the storm.

Redolent of the shattered landscape of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Gentinetta’s paintings evoke the broken frames of flooded homes and the city's devastated infrastructure. Downed telephone lines, random piles of debris and condemned buildings are all present in the thick brushstrokes and intrepid lines that mark each canvas. The artist uses materials that are purposely indicative of construction sites, including wall plaster, varnish and house paint acrylics, imbuing the works with both a subjective symbolism and forceful aesthetic.

Using a monochromatic color scale, the Stark paintings juxtapose opposing sentiments including vulnerability and strength, chaos and balance. The bold, abstract compositions speak to a multiplicity of themes including grief and despair, but above all celebrate the triumph of rebirth and hope over loss and devastation.

Gentinetta’s works have received national and international recognition and have been featured in such publications as The New York Times, Elle Décor, Luxe, Veranda, Traditional Home and Architectural Digest among others. Most recently, Gentinetta collaborated with RH Modern on a limited edition series which was successfully received and sold out. Her works can be viewed online on InCollect and personally at the Gallery at 200 Lex at the New York Design Center in NYC.

Commissions may be requested.