Jason Douglas Griffin at Leo Kesting Gallery Oct 16 — Nov 2
Jason Douglas Griffin, Cool Grey, 72” x 52”, mixed media on canvas, 2008
Leo Kesting Gallery Presents:
Jason Douglas Griffin – 80’s Babies
October 16 – November 2, 2008
Opening Night Reception: Thur Oct 16th from 7 - 10 pm
812 Washington St (at Gansevoort) NY NY 10014
8th Ave A, C, E and L train Stop or 1,2,3 to 14th St
Tuesday - Saturday from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm Sunday 1:00 – 6:00 pm
Admission is free to the public phone: 917-650-3760 / 917-292-8865
http://www.leokesting.com
Jason Douglas Griffin, the critically acclaimed New York street painter who is preparing a monograph to be released on HarperCollins, presents a collection of figurative, narrative paintings and illustrations debuting at Leo Kesting on October 16th. The series of artworks entitled “80’s Babies” showcases Jason’s signature graphic style of strong line and color to capture what he refers to as collaboration or narrative of his sitters.
“For me it represents a passion for people, meeting a person getting to know them and collaborating with them to discover their story,“ Jason explains about his work. “In this collection I am trying to discover the sitter’s narrative and reflect that on my canvas, a representation of who they are as a person as opposed to a portrait.”
”Jason’s artwork is a brand of illustration and painting creating a balance in his artwork that allows the viewer to get caught in the emotion and drama depicted in the subjects’ own visual story,” galleriest David Kesting stated. “These artworks are an example of how young artists, enculturated in our graphic society, reflect upon the roots and foundations of painting which is the portrait. Afterwards the challenge is to discover your own voice from within that foundation and make it into your own. With 80’s Babies, Jason shows he can do that in a unique and original way.”
80’s Babies opens to the public with a reception for the artist at Leo Kesting Gallery on Thursday October 16th from 7:00 until 10:00 pm.
From its origins as Capla Kesting Fine Art in Brooklyn, the Leo Kesting Gallery launched in 2003 and developed an aggressive campaign to introduce new figurative artists to collectors and art supporters. Leo Kesting offers the art viewing public an opportunity to see forthcoming talents in an intimate setting where undiscovered, cutting-edge artists are presented to the contemporary art scene.
Leo Kesting Gallery is located at 812 Washington St at the corner of Gansevoort in Manhattan’s Meat Packing District. A, C, E, or L train to 8th Ave and 14th Street or 1,2,3 train to 14th Street. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 11am until 7pm.
about the artist:
Intensely personal, while at the same time unpretentious and accessible, Jason Douglas Griffin’s paintings borrow equally from classical artistic traditions, urban aesthetic, and pop culture. In Griffin’s work, the intersection of cultures and ideologies produce an innovative style that challenges the common perceptions of art and identity.
Griffin’s art has been featured in several cities around the country, including Miami, Chicago, Washington DC, and New York, as well internationally, in China and Holland. He has been written about in magazines like, NY Arts Magazine and The Economist, and has been featured in The Washington Post, numerous times.
Griffin not only works to exhibit his art in galleries, but he has also tapped into the literary world with his upcoming HarperCollins release, “My Name is Jason. Mine Too.,” scheduled to be released, Spring 2009.
Griffin currently resides in Queens, New York.