Following on the heels of Gallery 1261’s landmark exhibition Tight, that explored works created in near-photorealism, comes the next phase of stunning, brand new paintings for the October show Tight².Gallery owner Chris Mileham, notes that this second edition, “honors artists whose work continues to push the boundaries of this high-definition realm—rendering their subjects with such immersive fidelity and technical prowess that viewers are often left in awe.”
Anthony Waichulis, Ghost Keeper, oil on panel, 20 x 16 in.
The show curator and participating artist, Anthony Waichulis, shares, “I’m elated to see a remarkable expansion of diversity in this year’s showcase—diversity not just in subject matter and voice, but in the approaches, intentions and executions that define what ‘tight’ representation can be. Too often, the label ‘tight’ is equated solely with colloquial notions of photorealism or hyperrealism. But this end of the spectrum encompasses much more than that. It includes artists who navigate many modes of high-definition representation in the service of narrative, emotion, illusion, symbolism and even play—rendering with clarity, yes, but also with deeply personal frameworks and unique stylizations that transcend mimetic fidelity alone.”
Fred Wessel, Angel Trumpets, Morning Dew, egg tempera,17 x 14 in.
Waichulis’s show piece Ghost Keeper, depicting a still life scene involving an animal skull among an arrangement of vintage objects, illustrates the artist’s fascination with the still life genre and trompe l’oeil effects, as well as high realism as a vehicle to invite curiosity and investigation. “I’m particularly compelled by the challenge of elevating what many would consider the mundane—the overlooked or ordinary—to the level of art,” he says.
The artist adds that Ghost Keeper was created as a concept relative to a work he did for the first Tight exhibition. “That earlier piece titled Tentum en Mente, was inspired by some conversations happening regarding the impact of AI on contemporary art,” says Waichulis. “Specifically, I aimed to communicate a simple but important message about art itself: that what we understand as art is not an external object or product—it’s an experience that happens internally. Ghost Keepercontinues in that vein. The title refers to the idea of something capable of holding memories, experiences or even secrets—what we might call ‘ghosts’ in a metaphorical sense. Many of the objects in the composition can be seen as having a symbolic or metaphorical connection to that idea.”
Scott Fraser, The Real Thing, oil on board, 12 x 8 in.
Other highlights include Heather Neill’s figurative painting Loosening, entirely driven by the theme of the show despite the opposing title name. “I didn’t have to look far around my studio to rest on the thing that my aging, arthritic hands are most challenged by every single morning—opening those tubes of paint,” she says. “It took a couple tries to get the composition together. I played with a few different views, asked my wife to pose, changed the shirt a couple times, but in the end, it came right back around to authenticity. My everyday studio shirt, complete with battle scars, the thinner pliers that I made a special shelf for alongside the paint stand, morning light tinged by the golds and greens from the summer garden, and the tenacious, white knuckled grip of those gnarling hands, which unleashes all of my wild and creative energy.”
Heather Neill, Loosening, oil on panel, 16 x 20 in.
To see these and many more impressive works of tightly-rendered contemporary art, visit Gallery 1261 in Denver, Colorado, from October 10 through November 1. An opening reception will be held on opening day from 6 to 8 p.m. —
Gallery 1261 1261 Delaware Street, Suite 1 • Denver, CO 80204 • (303) 571-1261 • www.gallery1261.com
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