New Image Art is pleased to present a solo project with Los Angeles based painter Alex Gardner for VOLTA NY’s 10th annual art fair at Pier 90 in New York City. This will be Gardner’s first creative project since his solo exhibition at New Image Art last year in July, this intimate showcase of new works will feature a series of the figurative paintings upon which Gardner has built his reputation.
Gardner’s paintings have a cold, surreal feeling upon first glance but as one engages the work further, the caring hand, the gentle embrace, and the smooth caress become equally apparent. The bodies are youthfully slender, sensually sleek, and mysteriously beautiful with the omission of facial features furthering the notion of a universal human experience.
Gardner's figures demonstrate a bionic sensibility complete with their own artificial intelligence conveying the emotive backlash to a digital revolution where human interaction has been refined to a synthetic online experience made to fit within a screen. Both female and male figures play out various roles of their relationship through the portrayal of body language. Gardner’s work demonstrates a classic yet simplified style with a soothing palette and composition.
What happens in each piece is mysterious yet familiar, which perhaps speaks to the ever-changing landscape of human relationships. The sexual roles are turned around and race and gender are rendered equal. Given our current turbulent socio-political climate of gender inequality and racial strife, Gardner brakes through the noise and creates a sexy cold world of mystery, contact, and intimacy.
