In his new series of paintings, John Bowman presents his viewer with iconic symbols of "the good life." Sparkling chandeliers, piles of food and drink—all are presented with a finely tuned sense of theatricality. Though paintings such as "Cheeses of All Nations" and "Royale with Cheese" are ostensibly served up as altars to happiness and satiety, the canvases dazzle the viewer with bright colors, and thoughts of gluttony and excess.

This effect of sensory complexity is mirrored on a formal level as well. Bowman’s compositions have the appearance of Rorschach inkblots, where seemingly perfect bilateral symmetry is in fact altered in subtle ways. The eye moves back and forth along the central spine of Bowman’s still-life arrangements, searching for these variations. The zeal with which each viewer takes up this challenge is perhaps its own sort of psychological exam. The result is a visually stimulating field that lies on the border between abstraction and figuration.


For further information, please contact Amanda Snyder at 212-327-2526.