Amusing Still Lifes: Group Exhibition

Gallery Henoch is pleased to present Amusing Still Lifes, a group exhibition highlighting six artists who respect the established traditions of the genre but aim to please, delight, and entertain viewers. An opening reception for the artists will be held Thursday, November 3^rd from 6-8 PM. The event is free and open to the public.

Initiated by the Dutch Masters of the 17^th Century, still-lifes depict inanimate objects from the man-made or natural world, encouraging slow and steady reflection. The genre, along with landscape, was thought to be the lowest of the painting hierarchy due to the absence of human subject matter. Yet still-life endured and was adopted in various movements throughout art history, incorporating symbolic objects and depicting the innate. This exhibition presents the contemporary evolution of still lifes as artists impart their own ideas into the genre. Whether the piece is humorous, painterly, or charming, each painting included in this show can be described as a little off the grid.

Olga Antonova’s still-lifes depict carefully selected antiques isolated in her compositions. The traditional look of her works stems from Antonova’s classical training at the Ilya Repin Institute of Painting in Russia. Her particular arrangements of uniquely worn yet loved objects create delightfully engaging memorials for viewers to enjoy.

Samuel Hung utilizes objects from popular culture to create his humorously intimate still-lifes. The Taiwanese-American artist depicts small objects, like rubber ducks and PEZ dispensers, alongside creative doppelgangers to create playful still life scenes.     

Robert C. Jackson’s still-life compositions parody everyday events. He uses colorful soda crates as a stage to reinvent his commonplace objects and characters to create witty narratives. The precise realism Jackson achieves in his live animals, colorful crates, or other vivacious yet inanimate objects, gives his whimsical still-lifes a genuine feeling.

A lifelong passion for language and symbolism helps Elizabeth McGhee transform ordinary objects into vessels full of meaning. McGhee pairs toys and objects she has found in flea markets and yard sales to employ puns and humor. Her cheerful arrangements draw viewers in while her use of symbolism addresses confrontational issues in an amusing way.

Often inspired by real relationships, Janet Rickus paints geometric arrangements of fruits, table linens, and household objects. Rickus’ layered groupings are awash in vibrant colors, suggesting cheerful gatherings of eccentric friends.

Will Wilson’s meticulously planned still lifes tell fantastic stories through layers of narrative. Wilson’s impressive execution of detail paired with his boundless imagination create works with contemporary references and objects rife with symbolism.