DREAMSCAPES
EMERGING ARTISTS
INSTALLATION VIEW
DREAMSCAPES
JULY 12 – SEPTEMBER 2024
In the contemporary zeitgeist, set against the background of turmoil, vibrant colors, and abstracted figures dominate artists’ compositional palettes. Luminous hues, loose textured brushwork, and iconography all speak to elements of Abstract Expressionism and Fauvism. With striking visual references to painters such as Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Paul Gauguin, artists Cynthia Zhou, John Paul Kesling, and Walker Antonio capture an untamed spirit through colorful palettes and abstract figuration.
The compelling polarity between upbeat tones and darker subject matter mirrors the original themes of Abstract Expressionism, which emerged in the immediate aftermath of World War II and aimed to reconcile the overarching feeling of post-war nihilism. The imagery dips into the subconscious worlds of the mind, exploring swirling emotionality. Awash in color, the selected contemporary compositions similarly serve as therapeutic aids to modern anxieties. Using color as a means of therapy, surrounding oneself in vibrancy keeps the darkness at bay and helps these artists cope. These motifs run wild across the canvas—an energetic and effervescent harmony to existentialism.
WORKS IN EXHIBITION
Wounded Flowers
John Paul Kesling, Acrylic, spray paint, paper mounted on canvas, 36 x 36 inches, 2022.
Flowers for the Road
John Paul Kesling, Acrylic, pastel, charcoal, paper on canvas, 36 x 36 inches, 2022.
Flowers for Matisse
John Paul Kesling, acrylic on paper mounted on canvas, 48 x 48 inches, 2022 [Sold]
Nude Bruise
John Paul Kesling | Acrylic and mixed media on canvas in four parts | 72 x 72 inches | 2022 |
The Sweetheart
John Paul Kesling | Acrylic, tempera, paper on canvas with white lattice stripping | 40 x 40 inches | 2013
Flowers For Mother
John Paul Kesling | Acrylic, pencil, charcoal, pastel, paper mounted on canvas | 36 x 36 inches | 2022 |
Thunderbolt
John Paul Kesling | Acrylic, pearlescent pigment, graphite on canvas | 14 x 11 inches | 2024 [Sold]
Flowers For Janette
John Paul Kesling | Acrylic, pastel, graphite on canvas | 16 x 12 inches | 2023 |