Burko’s diptych depicts the stunning geological formations and white chalk cliffs of Étretat, France. In the tradition of Impressionism, the artist applies sensuous, painterly strokes of color to explore the changing effects of light throughout the day. For nineteenth century Parisians, Étretat, on the coast of Normandy just north of Paris, was a popular destination to escape the bustle of the city. The beautiful cliffs were made famous by the Impressionist artist Claude Monet, who understood them to be as much a part of modern French life as the boulevards of Paris.
An accomplished photographer and painter, Burko records her travels and experiences with nature in both mediums. Since 2006 her work has directly addressed issues of climate change in locations such as the Arctic or the Great Barrier Reef. Born in Brooklyn, Burko earned a BA in art history and painting from Skidmore College and an MFA in painting from the University of Pennsylvania. She has taught at the Community College of Philadelphia, Princeton University, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Her work is in numerous public and private collections, including the Delaware Art Museum, the Denver Art Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Woodmere. Burko is represented by LewAllen Galleries in Santa Fe and Cindy Lisica Gallery in Houston.
