Ask for It, oil on canvas mounted on panel, 16 x 16"

“My work is characterized by its tight cropping, a practice often seen in contemporary advertising where figures are cropped to emphasize the garments they are promoting,” Rieck explains. “Cropping, for me, is not merely about framing a subject but a powerful tool to emphasize the unspoken, inside and outside the picture plane. Sometimes what isn’t painted is just as important as what is.”

The Lawyers, oil on canvas, 32 x 84"

Besides illuminating select pieces of a scene, clothes and body language have also been a central part of Rieck’s body of work for years. “Painting fabric has a long tradition in art history. Paint and fabric are very similar—they both conceal and protect but can also reveal identity, and are powerful tools for self-expression,” Rieck says. “In both cases, there’s a duality between what is presented and what lies beneath. It’s a put on. Many of Rieck’s paintings are sourced from catalog advertisements and promotional materials, “like annual reports or signing ceremonies,” he shares. “How these images are used to persuade or ‘sell’ ideas of behavior or presentation to a viewer is fascinating to me. Many come with unspoken communication, and by cropping and painting them I can focus on those gestures. Disconnected from its original agenda, the viewer can unveil and project ideas onto what lies beneath the figure’s gestures.”

First Class, oil on canvas, 84 x 60"

As part of a series of smaller paintings in the show, pieces like Ask for It, depicting a well-manicured hand holding a drink filled with ice, is inspired by 1970s alcohol and cigarette advertisements. “I’ve honed in on the hands delicately holding glasses [in this series],” says Rieck. “I’m intrigued by the idea of the allure and temptation of the alcohol in these ads. Particularly in the ice, which can symbolize the fleeting nature of pleasure, much like Old Master still life paintings of rotting fruit and meat are metaphors for the ruination of something pure. The message here being ‘enjoy, life is short.’”

Looking Good, oil on canvas mounted on panel, 16 x 16"

In another uniquely cropped painting, The Lawyers, we see two figures sitting at a reflective table with arms and hands crossed. “In this painting, I draw inspiration from an unlikely source—an annual report for a bank. The lawyers featured in the painting were giving testimonials in favor of the bank, and posing to exude confidence and professionalism to assure shareholders. To amplify the storytelling, I opted for a cinematic format, cropping out the figures’ faces and identities, leaving only dark suits, the uniform of the lawyer, and their reflections in the glossy tabletop.”