Jacob A. Pfeiffer’s exhibition of new paintings at Meyer Gallery in Santa Fe invites viewers to chew on visual puns, wordplay and metaphors. Titled Food for Thought, the show opens on October 6 with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. and remains on view through October 19.
Recognized for his mastery of contemporary realism, Pfeiffer says he enjoys painting quirky and unexpected subjects in a highly refined and realistic manner. “This juxtaposition creates a tension between the whimsical subject and the precise execution of the painting,” he says.
Walking on Eggshells, oil on panel, 14 x 18"
For instance, Walking on Eggshells features an old-fashioned saddle shoe atop a pile of eggs on a table. Not one of the eggs is broken, but that’s because the shoe rests, perfectly balanced, without a human foot inside to add any pressure. The painting is clever on several levels. Evoking wholesome tropes of 1940s schoolgirls and farm fresh eggs, the painting seems to harken back to a happier age. But the surface of the plinth holding the eggs is cracked. Look long enough and the delicate balance of shoe on shells seems more and more precarious.
Motivation, oil on panel, 16 x 9"
Meyer Gallery owner John Manzari says Pfeiffer is a master of visual surprise. “His meticulous technique and playful compositions never fail to amaze me. He has this unique ability to infuse intelligent silliness into his pieces and in these serious times, his art reminds us to laugh and appreciate the beauty of surprise.”
The painting, Motivation,contains a pun within a pun. A detailed rendition of an unpeeled carrot and a section of a thin tree branch, the painting reads as an illustration of a snack term: carrot stick. The title, however, suggests a less savory theme. As implements of motivation, the carrot and the stick are used to persuade a person into action and then punish them if that action is not taken. Small holes in the background surface suggest either a wall with leftover nail holes, or a board where scientific specimens are pinned. Are these tools still in use, or antique relics?
Crab Apple, oil on panel, 12 x 6"
Pfeiffer gets his inspiration from Dutch Golden Age still-life painters Willem Kalf and Pieter Claesz. (Think richly-hued fruit tumbling from ornate bowls or remnants of gourmet feasts.) “The intense attention to detail and illusion of atmosphere in their work is astounding,” Pfeiffer says.
Pfeiffer also admires Colorado painters Daniel Sprick and Scott Fraser, as well as contemporary trompe l’oeil painters, Anthony Waichulis and Natalie Featherston.
Make a Wish, oil on panel, 9 x 22"
Food provides a multifaceted subject matter for Pfeiffer. In some paintings he investigates the complex relationships people have with food. Other paintings are simply meant to be playful.
“The world needs more beauty and humor,” Pfeiffer says. “I hope my paintings offer the viewer a respite. Art doesn’t have to be serious or melancholy. Sometimes it can just be beautiful and make you smile.” —
Meyer Gallery 225 Canyon Road, Suite 14 • Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 983-1434 • www.meyergalleries.com
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