Michael James Ward, The 36 Year Winter, Mixed Media on Board
Agora Gallery is proud to present Michael James Ward in The Dexterity of Form.
About Michael James Ward:
Raw and uninhibited, the mixed media works by award winning artist, Michael James Ward, deal with political, religious and social issues with an in-your-face style. His highly expressive approach features Technicolor cityscapes and suburbs that form a backdrop in many of the paintings, including a characteristic flattening of space and fierce, untamed line work. “My art is very instinctual and very primal, so my hope for someone seeing it for the first time is that it gives them a sense of déjà vu,” explains Ward. There is a perceptible menacing stance that underlies the mood of many works, as faces loom out with jagged, razor sharp teeth and the limbs of figures are transformed into weaponry. There is a sense that Ward is thoughtfully processing these difficult societal issues rather than glorifying them, as if through the creative process he is coming to terms with a variety of the world’s ills.
Michael James Ward's fascinating body of work will undoubtedly be explored for years to come. He lives and works outside of Pittsburgh.
Michael James Ward’s work may be seen on
http://www.agora-
About The Dexterity of Form
An exciting selection of imagery hovering between abstraction and figuration, this exhibition offers a new understanding of modern social and human issues through art. A balancing act between still-lifes and a perspective of urban life succeeds in capturing a veneration of nature in contrast with a preoccupying social climate. The shift between the boundaries of topics through alternative perspectives gives rise to an intimate glimpse of national and local identities alongside images born of geographic memory.
Featured Artists: Mon Choo, Susanne Jonak, Maryanne Kelly Hand, Sonja Olson, Til O’plan Israel, Michael James Ward
Exhibition Dates: February 24, 2009 through March 17, 2009
Opening Reception: Thursday, March 5, 2009, 6-8 pm
Gallery Location: 530 West 25th Street, Chelsea, New York
Gallery Hours: Tues - Sat, 11am-6pm
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
