The eclectic group show, Riders of the Red Horse, at the Pit marks the re-opening the gallery after four months of closure due to the pandemic. The show features works by Diana Yesenia Alvarado, Amy Bessone, Keith Boadwee, Elana Bowsher, Canyon Castator, John de Fazio, Thiago Martins de Melo, Austin Eddy, Jesse Edwards, Sharif Farrag, Bella Foster, FriendsWithYou, Daniel Gibson, Tamara Gonzales, Daniel Heidkamp, Elizabeth Ibarra, Craig Kucia, David Leggett, Shaina McCoy, Liz Markus, Jay Miriam, Jaime Muñoz, Narumi Nekpenekpen, Heather Rasmussen, Jennifer Rochlin, Adrianne Rubenstein, Conrad Ruiz, Jose Luis Sanchez Rull, Koichi Sato, Allison Shulnik, Devin Troy Strother, and Ken Taylor.

The resulting paintings, ceramics, sculptures, and works on paper, manifest in a vibrantly colorful display of multi-figurative idyllic surrealism, striking a nostalgic longing for summers pasts. Riders of the Red Horse groups together a dynamic display of lively visuals, granting access to a much-welcomed contrast to the current state of the world. Although each work varies in theme, most pieces are illustrative and bright. The group as a whole transports the viewer to a celebratory world filled with figures, animals, and open spaces—daily elements once taken for granted. Many of the paintings consist of thick and deliberately applied paint, giving a definitive sense of purpose. Works are grounded in technique, yet remain whimsical in tone.

Keith Boadwee, A fish smoking a cigarette, (2020). Oil on canvas, 20″ x16″ x 1″

Keith Boadwee’s painting, A fish smoking a cigarette, depicts just as the title states. The smoking goldfish appearing seemingly indifferent as he floats in his round bowl surrounded by orange walls. Boadwee’s decisively applied marks play with the context of the painting, which doesn’t take itself too seriously. Hiejin Yoo’s Table Manners depicts a cheery table setting, the pink-flowered tablecloth complete with salt and pepper shakers while hands of diners come in on either side of the composition. The hands remain as white outlines rather than fully rendered appendages. Whether intentional or not, this visual of a dinner party once may have resonated as a mundane event or everyday moment, yet such a gathering now seems a distant memory. Devin Troy Strother’s mixed-media figurative works utilize narrative and a sense of humor, like colorfully abstracted hair, to discuss pressing topics relating to art history, pop culture, and Black identity. Strother’s flashy figures and dynamic compositions present a unique vehicle for often uncomfortable conversations. Canyon Castator’s large-scale, multi-faceted piece, Horses Mid Stream, is aggressively animated and visually references iconic characters like the Incredible Hulk. They are coupled with various outlandish elements, like a T-rex breathing pink flames and a floating breast. Comedically chaotic, Castator’s work references a slightly manic stream of consciousness.

Canyon Castator, Horses Mid Stream, (2020). Oil, spray, UV cured print on canvas. 80″ x 60″

Riders of the Red Horse engages in a vibrant dialogue between works. The often-comical illustrations igniting a conversation of brighter days of levity, some welcome fun in a time of need.

Riders of the Red Horse
July 21 – August 29, 2020
The Pit
(Showing by appointment)