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TERRY THOMPSON: Words & Pictures
September 9th - October 21st, 2017 Artist Reception: Saturday, Sept 9th, 5 - 8pm |
Phone: 310.838.3685
Contact: Tressa Williams FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
George Billis Gallery is pleased to present the gallery’s sixth solo exhibition of Terry Thompson’s paintings. The exhibition features the artist’s newest series of highly detailed oil paintings based on vintage signage and graphics. The exhibition continues through October 21st.
In this most recent series, “Words & Pictures,” realist painter Terry Thompson continues to explore his fascination with text and Americana through his highly detailed and aggressively cropped oil paintings based on vintage signage and graphics.
Thompson finds his subjects while exploring the forgotten back streets of cities across the United States. This discovery process, coupled with being in the presence of these signs, is important for his method which coalesces into paintings that are geometrically, contextually, and formally interesting; paintings which reveal a hidden beauty in the mundane and banal.
Text is prominent in most of Thompson’s paintings and he often amplifies its ambiguity through his use of cropping. This results in disjointed text and words that confront the viewer, begging to be read or deciphered.
Thompson is primarily drawn to older, unique signs that have somehow avoided the wrecking ball. Thompson says, “I see these signs as historically and emotionally charged metaphors for beating the odds. When I render rust, faded paint or broken neon, I’m imbuing my paintings with a sense of humanity and history.”
Thompson’s work can be found in private collections throughout the world and in the permanent collections of The San Jose Museum of Art, The Nevada Museum of Art, The California Museum -Sacramento, The de Saisset Museum of Art - Santa Clara University, and The Fort Wayne Museum of Art. Terry Thompson lives and works in San Francisco.
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In this most recent series, “Words & Pictures,” realist painter Terry Thompson continues to explore his fascination with text and Americana through his highly detailed and aggressively cropped oil paintings based on vintage signage and graphics.
Thompson finds his subjects while exploring the forgotten back streets of cities across the United States. This discovery process, coupled with being in the presence of these signs, is important for his method which coalesces into paintings that are geometrically, contextually, and formally interesting; paintings which reveal a hidden beauty in the mundane and banal.
Text is prominent in most of Thompson’s paintings and he often amplifies its ambiguity through his use of cropping. This results in disjointed text and words that confront the viewer, begging to be read or deciphered.
Thompson is primarily drawn to older, unique signs that have somehow avoided the wrecking ball. Thompson says, “I see these signs as historically and emotionally charged metaphors for beating the odds. When I render rust, faded paint or broken neon, I’m imbuing my paintings with a sense of humanity and history.”
Thompson’s work can be found in private collections throughout the world and in the permanent collections of The San Jose Museum of Art, The Nevada Museum of Art, The California Museum -Sacramento, The de Saisset Museum of Art - Santa Clara University, and The Fort Wayne Museum of Art. Terry Thompson lives and works in San Francisco.
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George Billis Gallery opened its second location in the Culver City area of Los Angeles in 2004 and marks its 15th year in the Chelsea arts district in New York City. George Billis shows work by both emerging and established artists. For more information please contact the gallery at:
2716 S. La Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034
T: 310-838-3685
F: 310-838-3438
email: [email protected]
www.georgebillis.com
2716 S. La Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034
T: 310-838-3685
F: 310-838-3438
email: [email protected]
www.georgebillis.com
