DEREK BUCKNER
Artist Statement
Born in 1970, Derek Buckner at present lives in Brooklyn, NY, with his wife and their two sons. The artist graduated from LaGuardia High School of Music and Art, as well as Vassar College, The Art Students League of New York and received a B.F.A. from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
During his career the artist has discovered many different themes, but there is one theme in particular that Bucker always has been drawn to: urban landscapes. In most of his paintings, Derek allows his viewers a distinctive look into his everyday surroundings, trip and adventures. For a big part, Buckner paints his environments that include but not limited to factory rooftops, bridges, urban cityscapes and more.
In Derek Buckner's most recent series of paintings, the vibrant palate and intensity of light, lend his subject matter deferential weight. Buildings and factories appear not only as elements of industrial Brooklyn but also as blocks of pure color. " For me, painting is not about inventing something new but instead it's the act of seeing and considering my world from new perspectives. A painting, unlike a photograph, does not represent a moment in time but is itself and collection of memories and decisions - an artifact of an experience. It is the desire to translate my experience of seeing through paint, which compels me to put my brush to canvas. In order for me to paint I need to be emotionally excited by a subject, “the artist states. Buckner’s goal is not to copy what he sees but to provoke that same excitement in the viewer also.
During his career the artist has discovered many different themes, but there is one theme in particular that Bucker always has been drawn to: urban landscapes. In most of his paintings, Derek allows his viewers a distinctive look into his everyday surroundings, trip and adventures. For a big part, Buckner paints his environments that include but not limited to factory rooftops, bridges, urban cityscapes and more.
In Derek Buckner's most recent series of paintings, the vibrant palate and intensity of light, lend his subject matter deferential weight. Buildings and factories appear not only as elements of industrial Brooklyn but also as blocks of pure color. " For me, painting is not about inventing something new but instead it's the act of seeing and considering my world from new perspectives. A painting, unlike a photograph, does not represent a moment in time but is itself and collection of memories and decisions - an artifact of an experience. It is the desire to translate my experience of seeing through paint, which compels me to put my brush to canvas. In order for me to paint I need to be emotionally excited by a subject, “the artist states. Buckner’s goal is not to copy what he sees but to provoke that same excitement in the viewer also.
