This January, Altamira Fine Art will be hosting a solo exhibition for Scottsdale, Arizona-based artist Geoffrey Gersten. Starting out as a CAD designer for Boeing and Honeywell, Gersten began painting fine art in the mid 2000s, teaching himself the techniques of the Old Masters. Since then, his artwork has evolved into a blend of abstract expressionism and photorealism, capturing a sense of nostalgic Americana: neon roadside signs, 1960s beach-goers in red polka dot swimsuits, Marlboro cigarette boxes, vintage cars, cowboys and more. “[My early works] were total chaos, but I loved painting so much so I just kept going,” shares the artist. “I pulled my hair out for 10 years, educating myself, learning over time. I didn’t know what I was doing, didn’t know good from bad, [but] I persevered.”
The Light that Shines Around You, oil on canvas, 48 x 48"
The exhibition Tonight, the Streets are Ours will feature new works by Gersten that capitalize on the feeling of old-fashioned Americana from a roadtripper’s perspective. His 48-inch square oil The Light that Shines Around You depicts a classic red sports car parked in front of a glowing motel sign at night, while One Day Service captures the colorful sign of a run-down laundry service. In his 72-by-48-inch Mona Lisa, a giant neon sign of a woman in a diving position stands out against a saturated blue sky. Though seemingly ordinary in subject matter, each painting distills a powerful moment in time—a retro world that a part of us still longs for in some way.
One Day Service, oil on canvas, 48 x 48"
“Geoffrey Gersten has made a name for himself in the pop-Western art world,” says Kimberly Duncan, gallery director of Altamira Fine Art. “Known for his bright depictions of nostalgic subject matter, he skillfully renders reinterpretations of vintage advertisements, Route 66 neon, and settings that call back to an older, yet highly familiar time. He depicts his subjects with crisp detail, allowing the viewer to place themselves inside of his scenes with ease.”
Mona Lisa, oil on canvas, 72 x 48"
Tonight, the Streets are Ours takes place at Altamira Fine Art’s Old Town Scottsdale location on Main Street from January 7 to 18. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, January 9, from 7 to 9 in the evening. —
Altamira Fine Art 7038 E. Main Street • Scottsdale, AZ 85251 • (480) 949-1256 • www.altamiraart.com
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