Current Exhibition

Third Friday Reception

with the Artists

Friday, July 19th, 5-9pm

John R. Nativio | Recycled Copper | 27 x 37 x 31 inches (68 inches on white oak base)

Judith Brandon | Ink, Charcoal, and Pastel on Incised Cotton Paper | 22.5 x 30 inches

Wild Muses | Judith Brandon and John R. Nativio @ Kenneth Paul lesko Gallery

Wild Muses | Judith Brandon and John R. Nativio, is an exciting shifting of gears for both artists, featuring new inspiring work. Those who know Judith Brandon’s work are familiar with her powerful, epic landscapes, while those who know John Nativio's work, are familiar with his haunting surrealist still-life and figurative paintings. Recently, each artist felt drawn toward nature, and the more intimate subject of individual animals; independently creating new, and very different bodies of work.

Judith Brandon’s work has the best elements of portraiture, combined with interpretive elements that evoke the individuality of the subject, as well as a sense of mystery and commentary. There is an intensity to this work, and a playfulness—as well as Judith's ever present mastery of drawing. Her subjects are rendered in ink, charcoal, and pastel, often with sacred geometry and text, subtly incised into the paper—creating a mesmerizing harmony, and a broader context for each compelling piece.

John Nativio’s work is not only a shift away from painting, but a shift into the third dimension, and an entirely new medium. His dynamic sculptures display his deep understanding of anatomy, and impart a sense of the living structure of each captivating creature; each slight variation in sculpted copper, hinting at the supple surface, tense muscle, and solid bone within.

While this body of work is different for each artist, much remains the same. This work parallels their previous bodies of work in regard to their adept approach. The labor intensive process that each artist employs is still present, as is the skillful craftsmanship that makes each artist so exceptional.

-View Exhibition-