This December, artist J Louis will host a pop-up exhibition of new work at a venue in SoHo, New York. His paintings can be found at galleries around the world, but Louis decided to create the show in his hometown so friends and family as well as collectors can view the work. “This will be the first show in a decade where I’ll live in the same city where the works are present,” he says, adding, “I wanted it to be a smaller show because I’m preparing for a London show next year.”
Ledge, oil on cradled linen panel, 22 x 30"
The exhibition, titled Homebodies, will have around a dozen paintings on view that highlight his fascination with the human figure and painting techniques. “The figure as subject came about naturally. I’ve always been drawn to people and observing them,” says Louis. He continues, “People are complicated. They’re so similar in so many ways, but unique and you can incorporate that into a painting. That’s just an incredible feat—this idea that it’s possible to communicate someone’s perspective through pigments on panel or linen. Create emotion with pigments.”
Lilly, oil on cradled linen panel, 48 x 36"
Homebodies, in particular, taps into the human psyche as the works reflect solitude, isolation and being in the home space. “It’s very difficult to not be thinking about being at home with COVID and how our world has dealt with so many issues over the past two years,” says Louis. “I wanted to create a body of work that’s similar to how I typically work, but also an extension of being at home, or being with yourself or another person in an intimate setting.” He also explores the idea of how the home is “a safe space to be yourself without the pressure of social constraints, which I appreciate about a home setting.”
Untitled, oil on cradled linen panel, 16 x 12"
The work has his signature style of blending thick and unexpected textures with color fields, creating stark environments that let the viewers explore and find their own narratives. “I am constantly experimenting with new ways to apply an old medium. I paint with traditional materials—oil paints, solvents, brushes—but I also use various scraping tools and different textured tools to create interesting effects in the artwork,” he explains. “Something that helps experiment with texture is the surface I paint on itself. All are linen on panel or straight panel, and they’re smooth or textured when I prepare them.” Seeing the work in person is an experience where the viewer notices the dimensionality and nuances of paint that may not easily be reflected in an online or printed image.
Untitled, oil on cradled linen panel, 20 x 16"
Among the pieces in the exhibition are two untitled works, which is something Louis has been doing recently. He elaborates, “Some paintings as soon as I see it, I name it, but other works they seem to not need a title.” Instead the pieces speak for themselves, while others such as Ledge and Looking Over have titles that offer a hint of story to the painting.
The show will be on view December 3 to 5.—
Pop-up Exhibition
347 Broome Street • New York, NY 10013
(256) 656-8058 • www.jlouis.com
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