Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.
Born Indiana, art school dropout, have been exhibiting since 1991, mostly painting. In retrospect, I have been exploring/investigating historical genres in contemporary terms ie; still life, expressionism, landscape, portraiture… Ashcan School…
Can you speak on the relationship painting has taken on with the evolution of the Internet and social media?
The Internet is a great way to see what’s happening, since I live and work in Massachusetts. There’s also movies, interviews, essays, books, news…
What is one of the bigger challenges you and/or other artists are struggling with these days and how do you see it developing?
The lack of aesthetic invention.
Do you have a consistently growing archive of references that you pull from? How do you source things?
Yes, Google, print, movies, books…
Can you speak on what it’s like to make work about violence in a medium that’s rooted in representing beauty?
Aesthetic redemption.
Do you have a set of rules or limitations when working?
I make the rules to start, and then the series or each individual painting takes over and decides what rules need to be broken or kept.
Do elements of your practice ever strike you as very personal?
All the choices are probably personal, as I am personally making them. Content, medium, style, formal…
What is something that you’ve always wanted to do and are working towards achieving?
Beautiful paintings of the unexpected, thinking Rembrandt paints, honey boo boo.
Do you think your setting influence whatever you’re currently making?
The world at large conflated with art history is my influence.
What was the last show you saw that stuck out to you?
Euphoria the series on Netflix?
In your work, when do certain moments of the everyday find themselves becoming iconic?
Don’t understand the question.
What artists do you think are making important work right now?
Stingel, Guyton, Lowman, Talmadge, and my new fav Weyant.
Do you consider your work very politically inclined?
Always! Both culturally and political.
What’s your favorite color?
White! It’s the color of a blank canvas.
Interview conducted and edited by Liam Owings