Lilienthal Gallery Hosts Opening Tonight for “Dreamscapes”

Lilienthal Gallery at 23 Emory Place hosts the opening of its summer exhibition from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm tonight. “Dreamscapes” features three artists, Cynthia Zhou, John Paul Kesling, and Walker Antonio, and will run through September. Walker Antonio will be present for the opening and will give a brief introduction to his art.

While the three artists offer quite different works, in collection they offer a cohesive statement. Vibrant colors, figures shifting from the realistic to the more abstract echo “elements of Abstract Expressionism and Fauvism.” While I’m not the best versed in art and art history, as Kelly Ferguson directed my attention to particular works, I could easily see these artists compositional references to Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Paul Gauguin.

Just as the post-World War II abstract expressionists dealt with a world no longer so simple, the vibrant colors in the exhibition belie the sometimes darker subject matter. The subconscious, nightmares, and anxiety are all present, but faced and, if not conquered, contained. The artists each bring a unique approach and aesthetic to common themes.

Another focus of the current exhibition is the presentation of emerging artists. The artists featured in “Dreamscapses” are each ascendant in their careers and their work, in great demand, sells quickly. It’s an opportunity to see them early in their careers and experience the kind of art that younger artists are exploring. In that respect, it continues the thread of Lilienthal presenting art that may be a bit different than other art presented locally.

You can click the links above to go to the artists’ websites, but here’s a brief introduction to each: