DREAMSCAPES

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.

ARTISTS