In an exhibition opening in early fall, Principle Gallery will explore the concept of reality and imagination in visual arts, taking a closer look at the blurred borders between these ideas. Opening September 19, the show will feature a wide range of subjects by some of the foremost artists working today, including Anna Wypych, J Louis, Jeremy Mann, Geoffrey Johnson, Joseph Zbukvic, Scott Christensen and more.
Geoffrey Johnson, Silver City with Dog, oil on board, 24 x 18 in.
Mixed Realities will take place at Principle Gallery’s Alexandria, Virginia, location. “Realism is a broad term encompassing artistic approaches that emphasize the faithful representation of the visible world,” says gallery director Clint Mansell. “In contrast to pure abstraction, where forms are entirely divorced from recognizable subjects, realism remains rooted in the observable, even as it takes on many stylistic forms.” Mansell has invited artists working across an expansive spectrum, including hyperrealism, impressionism, trompe l’oeil, magical realism and classical realism to be in the show. “Together, these artists offer a compelling exploration of how reality can be perceived, interpreted and transformed through their unique frames of reference,” he says.
J Louis, Purple Room, oil on linen, 29 x 48 in.
Louis brings several striking figurative paintings to the upcoming show, including Purple Room and Light Purples. Both pieces feature women lounging against blocks of saturated violet hues. “To me, ‘mixed reality’ is the convergence of multiple visual languages, each with its own dialect, yet all speaking simultaneously,” says the artist. “It’s the space where my sensitivity to color, my precision in drawing and my fascination with texture all merge into a singular, immersive vision. Each element—whether chromatic, formal or tactile—becomes a way of seeing, and together they form a reality that isn’t bound by one mode of perception but shaped by their interplay.”
Anna Wypych, What Do Busy Little Bees Whisper About?, oil on canvas, 28 x 24 in.
Johnson’s paintings of people walking down crowded streets amidst multi-story buildings clearly read as city scenes, and yet his work is decidedly abstract as well. “Many of my city scenes lack color because I often don’t see the city in color,” he says. “So perhaps I paint what I see as reality. How does it apply to my work? I am not really interested in painting exactly what exists, but interpreting it.”
For Mann, “Art is the result of an individual’s interpretation between the reality we all share and the reality as experienced by the individual. We all assume that others see the world as we see it, when truthfully, there is absolutely no way of knowing how another person views their own experience of life—except for art. Art, when produced with genuine integrity to convey the artist’s unique viewpoint, shows us all that each individual has a radically different experience.”
Mann’s artwork in the upcoming show includes two side-profile views of women surrounded by cloth and color, punctuated by vivid brushwork.
Jeremy Mann, Figure 6 SV #1, oil on papered panel, 12 x 9 in.
“When art is produced as the result of an individual completely absorbed in the creative state, not an attempt to produce a product, we get glimpses of their true individuality interpreting a reality of their own,” Mann continues. “The beauty behind every pair of eyes is shared through this experience of art, reminding each of us we live amongst mixed realities.” —
Principle Gallery 208 King Street • Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 739-9326 • www.principlegallery.com
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