Peter Gronquist “The Great Escape”
Joseph Gross Gallery
This event has ended.
Joseph Gross Gallery presents The Great Escape, a solo exhibition of 20 new paintings and sculptures by Portland, OR based artist, Peter Gronquist. The Great Escape is Gronquist’s first exhibition at the recently launched Joseph Gross Gallery space, and a new direction from the artist’s previous work, exhibited last year in his breakout New York City solo show at ArtNowNY.
The Great Escape will highlight a new body of work consisting of oil enamel and acrylic paint on Plexiglas, abstract three-dimensional pieces and freestanding sculptures. The show’s title references to Gronquist’s departure from his previous work; ironic, conceptual, figurative paintings and sculptures that include a well known series of taxidermy animal pieces and designer branded firearms.
The new works have a visceral effect that blends the effects of color field painting with offhanded gestural movement and the paint’s own organic movement on the smooth matte surface to ethereal effect. A series of ‘infinity boxes’ are lit by LED lighting, while the paintings require only natural light to illuminate and glow. Admitting that his younger self would not understand this new direction, Gronquist felt the urge to start experimenting a year and a half ago. After completing several commissions for abstract works, Gronquist set to work redirecting his studio practice to thoroughly explore his desire for the newfound artistic impulse.
Gronquist describes the show as a “liberation” from the high production value of past works. Indeed, through abstraction, he craves to move away from the representational pieces that dominated his early career. The new work is truly experimental and raw, focused on leaving a mark with this newfound inner sincerity, as opposed to the irony of past work.
Media
Schedule
from November 06, 2014 to November 29, 2014
Opening Reception on 2014-11-06 from 18:00 to 21:00