This body of work is the second in a three-part series that explores the intersection between painting as fine art and illustration as a publishing tool. It reflects an ongoing interest in how commercial influences and reproduction processes shape visual representation, contrasted with the handcrafted, singular perspective inherent in painting. The series draws from experiences during a trip to China in the spring of 2019, where observation and photographic documentation played a key role in the development of the imagery.
The artist was particularly impacted by the scale of population density encountered during the trip, especially the experience of moving through the Forbidden City among tens of thousands of people. This overwhelming yet inspiring encounter informs the paintings, which translate vast human presence into imagined open landscapes. These constructed settings function as stages for figurative scenes, creating five distinct visual narratives that merge personal experience with invented environments.
Meet the artist at the opening reception on Saturday, February 28, from 1 PM - 3 PM. The exhibit will run from February 24 – March 7, 2026.
