Please join us on Thursday, November 7th from 6-8pm for the opening reception of Jeff Kessel’s solo exhibition of abstract paintings at SL Gallery (335 West 38 Street)
Using spray paint, oil, and string, Jeff Kessel’s theatrical work in this self-titled exhibition leans heavily on its direct relation to the body. One is confronted with the confounding duality of monumental space and tactile outward surface, keeping the viewer bouncing between the literal material and the perceived expanse of the work. Kessel’s use of kite string in these works directly references his lifelong interest in kites and their ability to make visible the abstract vastness of the expanding sky. By creating a direct link between ground and sky, the sail and tether serve to articulate the immensity of space. With an acidic stop and go harmony, the paintings in this exhibition concoct a strange brew revealing the pictorial space of the visual world that feels at once oddly familiar yet distinctly bizarre.
Jeff Kessel’s solo exhibition will remain on view through December 20, 2019. This event is free and open to the public.
