The exhibition will be on view from November 13 through December 17 with an opening reception on Thursday, November 12 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Michael Meehan’s paintings reflect a meditative and quiet exploration of temporality. Working in his studio, Meehan’s cogitative style reflects a deep and personal understanding of subject matter. The show is comprised of ten paintings reflecting and repeating the same figure in space. Each bather is suspended in a liminal state between the exiting and entering of the winter waters of Sweden.
Meehan’s repetition in imagery allows the similarities and distinctions in his aesthetic choices to come to the viewer slowly. Subtle changes in hue, position and gesture combine in serial to represent a deep exploration of personal narrative. “The acute observation that is so palpable in this series has been an integral component to Meehan’s work to date,” writes curator Christina Kee.
“The depiction of this wintry scene emanates from such a convincingly embodied vantage point as to make our empathy with the struggle against the extreme cold it expresses absolute. And indeed, the cold here is all pervasive, infusing the colors, rhythms, and even the tightly constructed compositions with its restrained kinetic energy.”
Michael Meehan, born New York City, received his BFA from Cornell University and MFA from the New York Studio School. Michael has lived, worked and exhibited in New York , California and Sweden. He currently lives and works in New York City, and has taught at the New York Studio School. His present series of paintings is based on work from observation and memory from his time in Sweden.
