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The new work in "Walls" is closer to the Curtis Gutierrez' drawing style, which has largely remained distinct from, and an indirect source for, his painting until now. Dense but looser, he is allowing the imagery to stand on its own, and letting the gestures that have always driven his work show more and more. Arches and "walls" of figures feature heavily in his drawing and now in this new body of work. The line work and clever application of layering dark and bright color adds a frenetic energy to the work, creating crowded figures that seem to twitter in tense anticipation and twist in supplication toward the viewer. Most figures hardly even embody their own separate self, instead, the reflecting light and lines delineate groups of bodies that resemble tightly wound buds or architectural columns - are multifaceted beings neither individual nor singular in identity. It is an interesting and largely untouched note in contemporary art, the simultaneous experiencing of our “selves" as a continuum within a group.
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Curtis Gutierrez, hailed as a “maverick” by the LA Times, came out of the Chicano Mural movement of 1980's Los Angeles, but developed a separate visual style. However, the Chicano Mural movement deeply informed the epic scale and narrative in his work, which concerns the overarching themes of nations, generations, and legacies. His painting is grounded in the figure and the gesture of painting, but the artist often wholly reinvents his work, at a pace that has only increased over the years. The visual language developed throughout all these evolutions is distinctive, drawing from the training he received as a sign painter in his youth from his father. Though it is easy to see the influence of muralism, he also draws heavily from classical motifs, and from painters such as Goya, El Greco, and de Kooning, whose treatment of the figure was symbolic of the psyche. The bold line work, dramatic colors, and sense of urgency define his overall body of work as he finds new opportunities within traditional figure painting.
In addition to the opening on December 16th, there is a closing reception: Sunday, December 31, 2017, 6 PM - 9 PM. Gallery Hours:Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 4PM - 8PM
2379 Glendale Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90039