Portraits

Dan McCleary, Lucas Reiner, George Stoll

September 8, 2007 - October 6, 2007

opening reception: September 8, 6-9pm

Carl Berg Gallery is pleased to present “Portraits” a three-person exhibition featuring paintings by Dan McCleary and Lucas Reiner and sculpture by George Stoll. This show matches three artists who treat their subject matter with great intensity and discovery. Penetrating below the surface, each artist exposes a humanistic association to his subject matter.

Portraiture is a genre of art that has been investigated and re-investigated by artists throughout history and has evolved through various stylistic interpretations and conceptual investigations. In this three-person exhibition the notion of what portraiture “is” is being examined.

The human image has been objectified and commoditized to such a degree in popular culture that its depiction has often been reduced to a single meaning. Posters of Mao, t-shirts with the image of Che Guevara, velvet paintings of Elvis Presley, posters of Marilyn Monroe are all examples of this popularization. The public’s reaction to these figures is no different than its reaction to any other popularized product. Of course Andy Warhol recognized this and subsequently created works based on the popularized images of Elvis Presley, the Campbell soup can, Marilyn Monroe, Brillo boxes, etc.

In contrast to the commoditization of the individual, artists throughout art history have also attempted to imbue non-human forms with human qualities. Artists have often portrayed objects as metaphors for human characteristics in narrative artworks as well as in still life paintings. But in more rare instances, some artists have not just presented an object as metaphor but presented the object with its own humanistic quality. Zurburan and Morandi’s still life paintings come to mind.

The artists in “Portraits”, whether directly portraying the human form or not, have sought to de-objectify and de-commoditize their subject matter. Each artist represents his topic with great consideration and thoughtful interpretation uncovering more than the superficial depiction that is so commonplace in media derived imagery. They seek to comment on their subject matter rather than systems of image distribution.


The works presented in this show depict the subject as object and are not symbolic but rather extends themselves by taking on a different and distinctive non-physical nature. An awareness or connection exists in each of the artists work in which the subject matter has an experience of itself-- the “portrait” is not only serving as a straight depiction of something or someone. The works of McCleary, Reiner and Stoll liberate themselves from what they represent as they shyly reveal themselves with a fragile and quietly emotional existence. The illusion of their individual existence is evident as each artist creates an image that is not just media familiar but is charged with the artist’s own subjectivity.

In all, the works are introspective for sure, seeming to purposely re-examine themselves to make their own introspective commentary. Dan McCleary, Lucas Reiner and George Stoll have attempted to slow down the process not just in the method of art making but also in the subsequent action of looking. The works of all three artists have a stillness about them that forces the viewer to contemplate each image with a greater degree of investigation.

For further question please contact Carl Berg
Tel: 323-931-6060