All Photos By Gail
Currently sharing the space with the paintings of Kevin Cyr at Jonathan LeVine’s 22nd Street Location is a fun exhibit from Canadian artist Gary Taxali, whose whimsically twisted artwork is a perfect fit for the gallery. Unforget Me includes works on paper and panel, including the artist’s largest piece to date (as seen above).
Taxali creates hand-drawn typography and expressive, cartoon-like figures with layers of printmaking techniques such as rubber stamps and silkscreen. Known for a graphic style and retro aesthetic, his imagery is largely inspired by vintage animation and printed ephemera (comics, advertising and packaging). Taxali works with multiple mediums and utilizes a variety of found materials like old book covers and torn, age-worn, scribbled-on pages.
Gary Taxali describes the exhibition as exploring: “themes of love, separation, isolation, unease, excitement, revelations and absolute joy through the overarching theme of paradoxes. In these works, my characters try to make sense of their situations and the dualities therein. Many of the works contain opposite reactions, both in concept and execution.”
He continues, “I’ve also employed the use of non-existent words. An effective way for me to convey all of this is through humor, both light and dark, mocking the flaws of the human condition yet serving as a sweet reminder that nothing should ever be taken absolutely seriously — I try to unforget that every day.”
This is a very fun exhibit that I recommend you check out in the next few weeks.
Gary Taxali’s Unforget Me will be on Exhibit through March 22, 2014 at Jonathan Levine Gallery, Located at 529 W 20th Street, 9th Floor, in the Chelsea Gallery District.
