SCOTT SPEH GALLERY
Gallery
Address:
845 W Washington Blvd.
2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60607
USA
312.480.8390
send
email
( scott at westernexhibitions dot com)
Gallery
hours:
Wednesdays thru Saturdays
11am to 6pm
artist books,
editions and more
May 25 to June 30, 2012
JOHN PAROT
EXCAVATION
Reverse Lotus, 2012
Acrylic and Enamel on Asphalt Felt , 18.5 x 23Western Exhibitions is thrilled to present our third solo show with John Parot, whose poetic investigations into gay urban living manifest themselves in vibrant paintings, collages and sculptures, and psychedelic visions, personal reflection and Warrior symbols prevail amidst idiosyncratic patterning and geometries. The show opens on Friday, May 25, 2012 with a free public reception from 5 to 8pm and will run through June 30, 2012. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11am to 6pm and by appointment.
In John Parot's new show "Excavation," he further explores his fascination of ancient Egyptian tomb art as well as his love of the psychedelic age. Parot’s large-scale works and paintings evoke remnants from a lost burial chamber – he urges the viewer to focus on their patterns and color, trying to seduce with their possible histories. His intricate patterns of gouache, often lovingly painted on smiling disembodied heads, clipped from fashion and porno mags, carry both tribal and retro-futuristic connotations. He has now enlarged this signature patterning from his often-intimate scale to greater dimensions by painting directly on thick roofing paper. The patterns become objects in and of themselves and the results, for the viewers, are akin to walking into one of Parot’s drawings. The new works touch upon psychedelic visions and personal discovery. With his references to tomb artifacts Parot conjures a more reflective tone, taking stock of his desires and identity.
John Parot’s work has been shown at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Jack Hanley Gallery in San Fransisco, Locust Projects in Miami, and Light & Sie in Dallas and it has been discussed in BUTT Magazine, Artcritical, Beautiful/Decay, the Art:21 blog, The New Yorker, Time Out Chicago, Artnet Magazine, NYFA Quarterly and Art on Paper. His 2010 show at Western Exhibitions was reviewed in The Chicago Tribune and New City. His 2007 show at Western Exhibitions was named on of the top five shows of the year by New City. Parot is a 2004 recipient of grants from the Illinois Art Council and Artadia. He received his MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art and he lives and works in Los Angeles.
Snake (Purple), 2012
Gouache and enamel on tarpaper, 36 x 38 inches
White Pentagram, 2012
Gouache and enamel on tarpaper, 30 x 33 inches
Rock that I found and took home, 2012
Acrylic and Enamel on Asphalt Felt, 21.5 x 23
Found Fragment, 2012
Acrylic and Enamel with Asphalt Felt and wood, 15"x 24”
Knot with Twine reinforcement, 2012
Acrylic and Enamel on Asphalt Felt, 40 x 41"
Pink Pentagram, 2012
Gouache and enamel on cut asphalt felt, 30 x 33 inches
ALL IMAGES © WESTERN EXHIBITIONS & EACH INDIVIDUAL ARTIST