The beauty of the useful

“Rope #1” (oil on panel), by Renee Levin, in her joint show with Jennifer Day, “Knotty Girls,’’ at Atelier Newport (R.I.) through July 22.

Ms. Levin, based on the New Jersey coast, is best known for her depiction of coastal objects. She spends a lot of time looking closely at objects on beaches.

And you can't change your mind

“Linked” (oil on panel), by Renee Levin, in the joint show, “Knotty Girls, with Jennifer Day, at Atelier Newport June 17-July 22.

The gallery says:

Ms. Levin’s “large-scale paintings allow her to emphasize the nuances, patterns and textures of these objects while celebrating their unique beauty. Each painting bears witness to her calm and meticulous process. There is a playful juxtaposition of light and shadow, which creates depth and movement in her work. Levin fuses a world of polish with grit, painting elements of her objects with perfect smoothness, yet adding harsh textures overtop creating a surprising harmony of modern, contemporary paintings. Her work was featured in Vogue, in 2021.’’