Alec Dartley: Landscapes
EXHIBITION DATES: February 4 – March 1, 2025
RECEPTION: Thursday, February 6, 5 – 8 pm
The Painting Center is pleased to present Landscapes, a solo exhibition of gouache and oil paintings by artist Alec Dartley in the Main Gallery. The exhibition opens on Tuesday, February 4, and runs through March 1, 2025. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, February 6, from 5 to 8 pm, and a closing reception will occur on Saturday, March 1, 2025, from 4 to 6 pm.
Dartley, best known for his evocative depictions of the natural world, presents a captivating series inspired primarily by the Palisades area of New Jersey. The exhibition explores his dual approach to painting, alternately using plein air and studio-based practices to create works that reflect both the tangible and intangible aspects of nature.
“Painting outdoors is a thrilling challenge,” Dartley shares. His plein air works, created directly in the landscape, capture the dynamic qualities of nature—shifting light, unpredictable weather, and the energy of the environment. Dartley embraces the inherent uncertainty of painting outdoors, where each gust of wind or sudden downpour risks destruction of a piece. Passersby often add a further layer of complexity, subtly altering the process as they move through the scene.
In contrast, Dartley’s studio works delve into more introspective and imaginative terrain. Working from memory and instinct, Dartley constructs landscapes that explore forms and compositions dictated by intuition rather than the seemingly solid framework of nature. This shift to a more personal, internal process allows for a slower exploration of the abstract elements within his subject matter.
The exhibition will showcase one large-scale oil painting and 12 gouache works, selected as Dartley’s finest pieces from the past two years. These works highlight the artist’s evolving style, where raw nature and the artist’s inner world converge.
