City with Market, an oil painting on linen by Mark Horton contains both realistic and abstracted elements. This urban landscape feels familiar, yet it depicts a place that does not really exist. Horton’s compositions are made up of components from many cities that are positioned on the canvas in such a way that the viewer is drawn in. Intrigued by architectural elements, random passersby, and ubiquitous details such as street lights and fire hydrants, Horton uses color and texture to suggest a lively interaction between people and place. Mark Horton‘s urban landscapes will be on exhibit from September 10 to October 14. Please visit Mark Horton’s page on the Tory Folliard Gallery website to see more of his work.
Flora Langlois – “Fiesta Campestre”
The affection Flora Langlois feels for her native Costa Rica is evident in her new painting “Fiesta Campestre” which measures 16×20 inches. Depicting a fantasy garden party from another time outside her studio window, Langlois includes in this work a beautiful damsel, handsome bards, and creatures appropriate in a medieval bestiary. Many of the vines and plants are currently in the artist’s garden, although, she assures us, the wild animals are not. Filled with rich detail, diminutive brush strokes, and intense color, “Fiesta Campestre” is a feast for the viewer’s eyes and party for heart. Click here to see more of Flora Langlois’s work.
Dennis Nechvatal – “Silence”
Dennis Nechvatal‘s wall sculpture Silence, which measures 30 x 20 x 5, inches consists of thirty masks which are meticulously cut and formed by the artist’s hand. Hardware, specially designed and constructed by Dennis, attaches the masks to the board in an elegant and simple system. The faces seem to float out, suggesting airy dimensionality and providing opportunity for interesting shadows. This monochromatic scheme is somewhat unusual to the artist. Leaving the tin unpainted allows the artist to reveal the numerous, tiny hammer marks to the viewer, tangible proof of his using an old school method to create a timeless, contemporary piece of art. We will be showing new work by Dennis Nechvatal at Art Chicago. Click to see more of Nechvatal’s work here.
Wolf Kahn – “Violet Woodland Symphony”
Can you hear the music? It is the sound of the forest emanating from Wolf Kahn‘s Violet Woodland Symphony which measures 43×53 inches framed. Known throughout the world for his fusion of color and unbound abstractionism, this pastel expresses his ongoing interest in the natural world. By pushing the boundaries of color and texture, Kahn communicates his ability to see the fascinating aspects of everyday scenes. An extensive traveler, Wolf Kahn has painted diverse landscapes in many parts of the United States, Mexico, Greece, Italy, and Africa. You can see more work by Wolf Kahn at here.
Jeffrey Ripple – “View from Lavender Hill”
Jeffrey Ripple‘s View from Lavender Hill, framed to 14×34 inches is a meticulous depiction of an urban landscape as seen from the artist’s Milwaukee studio. Carefully capturing not only a place, but also a time of day and year, this winter scene is not cold, but filled with warm light, carefully defined flora, and lively winter shadows. Highly detailed and insightful, Jeffrey Ripple‘s paintings continue to exhilarate with their realistic essence. Ripple will be exhibiting work in our biennial exhibition, Summer in Wisconsin. Click here to see more work by Jeffrey Ripple.
Bill Reid – “Dist Ants, Bent Rules, and Dodos”
Dist Ants, Bent Rules, and Dodos, a new painted steel sculpture which measures 21x15x7 inches, is Bill Reid‘s latest whimsical commentary in 3-D. A stylishly dressed anteater pushes around a fanciful array of ants who are busy creating lifesavers for the dodo bird in the cart. This charming menagerie inspires delight and wonder in all who behold it. The creatures, painstakingly cut and shaped from steel and exquisitely covered with fantastical painted details have individual personalities, but are united in their efforts. More of Bill Reid’s work, including large scale will be featured in our Summer in Wisconsin exhibition, which takes place July 1 though September 3rd. Please click here to see more of Bill Reid’s creatures.
Rodger Bechtold – “East Gable Sorenson”
Rodger Bechtold‘s East Gable Sorenson is filled with beautiful light and surface texture, inviting the viewer to share a tranquil moment. As Rodger puts it, “I create landscape paintings that have a feeling of spaciousness beyond the limits of the canvas dimensions, charged with color, expressed with energy and seemingly effortless brushwork. But most of all I’m interested in communicating what it feels like to be there.” A graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago and a student of the great Wolf Kahn, Bechtold’s work offers a reprieve from hectic daily life. Rodger Bechtold will be having a solo showing of his work in an exhibition entitled Middle Ground from May 20th through June 25th. Rodger will be exhibiting his work at the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend, WI through May 1st.
Richard Taylor – “Marks in Mitchell”
Marks in Mitchell, an aluminum and enamel wall sculpture which measures approximately 45x48x12 inches embodies many of the qualities Milwaukee sculptor Richard Taylor is celebrated for. Juxtaposing vividly colored, irregular shapes in a dynamic manner makes for a rhythmic and expressive work with perfect blend of abstract sculpture and painting. Suitable for indoors or out, Taylor’s work makes any location seem special. Richard Taylor will be presenting new work for our Summer in Wisconsin exhibition which takes place July 1st through September 3rd. Click to see more of Richard Taylor’s work.
Paula Swaydan Grebel – “Sturgeon Bay Shipyard”
Paula Swaydan Grebel‘s new painting Sturgeon Bay Shipyard, oil on canvas, 14.5×25.5 inches challenges the viewer to see a mundane scene in a new way. Expressing the energy of an industrial location rather than depicting it through gritty details, this diptych is as much about the areas created by scraping with a palette knife, as it is about the richly textured paint left behind. Paula will be showing more of her plein aire paintings in our Summer in Wisconsin exhibition which will take place July 1st through September 3rd. Please click to visit Paula Swaydan Grebel’s page on our website at to see her other new paintings.
Mark Mulhern – “Blue Bicycle at the Beach”
Mark Mulhern‘s Blue Bicycle at the Beach, oil on canvas, 60×70 inches, illustrates an activity filled, lighthearted day at the beach. Inspired by travel, visits to the beach, and every day people, Mulhern’s style captures a mood with minimal, abstracted detail and colorful accents. Introspective but unselfconscious, this freely painted work is filled with subtle gestures that invite contemplation on the part of the viewer. Mark Mulhern will have his 7th solo exhibition in the gallery April 15th through May 14th. We will be showing Mulhern’s Bathers series at Art Chicago, March 29th through April 2nd. Click here to see more of Mark Mulhern’s paintings.