Image galleries

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Thin Skin was the first series of work begun in my studio at the old 5pointz building in Long Island City in 2005. It was the first real crystallization of my ideas in paint that brought my interests in popular media, such as Comics and Video Games, together with my understanding of paint and the action of painting. The work is clearly about the rot and vulnerability that plagues us as living creatures, and the absurdity and fragility of existence. Each image is singular and alone, as one might feel about one's own singular perception of reality. They are vulnerable and grotesque, silly and dark. I believe they represent us as what we truly are, not as we believe ourselves to be.

 In his image draws upon my time spent attending Catholic school in Florida. Catholics like to pretend we are something other than animal, claiming we are made in God's image. But, the truth is that we are all creatures of this earth, bound by it's laws and no matter how hard we reach for the heavens, that one truth remains. It is through that truth where growth and understanding is possible. Again, these works reflect on the state of humanity at present, and the collective tendency to rely on a fictional narrative to help us in providing meaning for our lives. It is only when you peel that narrative back does one realize what really matters. 

 The Excess was exhibited at Envoy Enterprises, at my first solo show with the gallery in 2007.

During this time, things were happening economically and politically that were deeply concerning to me, making me question my ideas of the country I grew up in. Politically, things were as off the rails as I had ever experienced and we seemed to be on the path to a becoming a fascist state. The world economy was starting to grow unstable, leading to the great recession of 2007-2009. It was clear that greed was at play in both instances, unchecked and out of control. That formed the backdrop of insecurity and instability that ultimately characterizes this body of work. 

   And the word was made flesh was intended as a full-throat-ed follow up to The Excess. The canvases were large and immersive and gobbled you up. They, too,  were born out of the sense of insecurity and instability that plagued the country during the economic crisis, while simultaneously contrasting with the hope of a new life - my daughter who had just been born in late 2008. This work channels all of that - love and loss and hope for a better future. It also clearly still fully recognizes the rot and temporal nature of being.

Rainbow Dreams was a small series of paintings I created in between And the word was made flesh and Electric Bogeyman, at the request by Jimi Dams that I participate in an upcoming group show honoring Frank Tovey. So, I spent time in the studio listening to Fad Gadget and watching recorded performances of Frank Tovey, getting ideas of where to begin. I don't normally approach painting this way, but I was asked to do a tribute to one of the pioneers of electronic/industrial music, so I wanted to make sure I got the essence of it. The Painting "Frank" was to be shown in the exhibition FG.FT at Enovy Enterprises in 2012.

  This is a body of work that laid out all of my fears and insecurities, looking simultaneously backwards and forwards. Feeling conflicted about my past and fearful of what the future held, while also combining that with the joy of being a father to a young beautiful soul, became the bedrock on which this body of work was built. The color was inspired by the many children's books I read to my daughter every day. And some of the imagery was inspired by those experiences of raising her. But mainly the work represented the joy she injected into the dark foreboding world of my psyche, by returning the love I gave to her, showing me how much I mattered to her.