Abend Gallery warmly invites you to explore the captivating creations of Michael Carson in his latest solo exhibition, opening August 9th and running through August 27th. Join us for the artist reception on August 16th, from 5 to 8 PM, where the artist himself will be in attendance. This remarkable collection reflects Carson’s renewed inspiration following his travels through Italy, infusing his signature figurative work with immersive and innovative backgrounds. Experience how architectural and abstract elements harmonize with the human form, creating a dynamic interplay of shapes and spaces. Each piece, carefully layered over time to achieve a unique depth, showcases Carson's exploration of new techniques and his journey towards evolving his art. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the debut of Carson’s first solo exhibit at Abend Gallery in Denver, Colorado, featuring approximately 15 new oil paintings.
📅 Exhibition Dates: August 9 - August 27
🎉 Artist Reception: August 16, 5-8 pm (Artist in Attendance)
📍 Location: 1261 Delaware St, Suite 2, Denver, CO 80204
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Artist Statement:
"This is my first large group of paintings since I've been back from traveling through Italy. Something about travel always inspires me and puts me in the mood to paint, and Italy is my favorite. I couldn't wait to get back and work. The thought of my first solo exhibit with Abend Gallery in Denver, Colorado, filled me with excitement. I was determined to create work that would make a solid first impression.
Of course, this new series is figurative work, per my usual, but the backgrounds became more immersive and vital, and I started seeing opportunities to enhance and evolve my work. I loved finding new ways in which compositions of figures would interact and sometimes take a back seat to the evolving background designs, whether architectural or abstract. The idea was to consider the shapes and space around the figure as its entity, with its own importance, while also fitting into a larger cohesive design.
I worked on many pieces at once, jumping from one to the next, which made the pieces feel fresh. A method I've started to use that helps maintain "fresh eyes." I allowed pieces to dry and layer paint over some time to create depth that was both graphic and vague and opened up some new techniques that felt like I was traveling in the right direction
Hope to see you there." - Michael Carson
LEARN MORE ABOUT MICHAEL CARSON
Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, whose artwork can be found in private and corporate collections throughout the United States. His volition is to emphasize relationships of color and light and allow the texture of his brush stroke to move a viewers eye through the art.
Artist Statement
"My work is first and foremost figurative studies. It's what I like to paint, my biggest challenge and my greatest payoff. My nondescript surroundings help me create a mood or a story that I am trying to relay through my painting. Inspiration comes from architectural interiors as well as fashion and my work allows me to explore and explain this side of myself. Seeing how the work evolves, the subtle and the drastic differences, and looking forward to the future is what keeps me painting. I view a painting as a success when I take from it something new that follows me into my next work. It's just about learning to become a better painter." - Michael Carson