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Leo’s work, while undeniably timely, transcends the seductive pigeonho... more >> Rì Galerie is thrilled to present, Broken Records, an online solo exhibition of paintings by the New York-based artist Brian Leo, which features 28 colorful paintings. Obsessed with personal and social politics, Leo constructs and deconstructs identity through world events, Internet memes, reality television, and other frenzied, everyday content and communication.
Leo’s work, while undeniably timely, transcends the seductive pigeonhole of vogue, and instead combines humor with self-references and world events in order to spark free-association and conversation concerning “sensitive” issues amongst viewers. Through his playful yet wholly uncensored approach to interpreting the multitudes that comprise experience. He communicates by exhibiting clusters of small, brightly colored acrylic paintings, using cartoon imagery as a direct interpretation of what he experiences, and a narrative he tries to understand, at the same time, it is an appropriate and reliable reflection of society.
In the exhibition, his paintings appropriate and dissect contemporary culture against bright colors. Everything is fair game when it comes to Brian’s coy commentary, including the environment, addiction, the online porn industry, and covid. Effortlessly blending the mundane with the somber, Brian’s canvases reflect a mind endlessly fascinated and perplexed by everyday life, whether that means the physical and mental consequences of smartphones or the sluggishness of space exploration. Each piece incorporates and capitalizes on elements of Painterly-Pop Art and Surrealism, through vibrant quirkiness -- establishes an immediate and endearing sense of familiarity.
About Brian Leo
Brian Leo (b. 1976) currently lives and works in New York City. Leo established Brian Leo Projects in NYC (2020) and has been curating exhibitions of established and underrepresented artists. Leo received a B.F.A from Mason Gross School of Arts / Rutgers University. Recent exhibitions include two person shows and solo shows at Megumi Ogita Gallery in Tokyo. Leo’s work has appeared in The Osaka Art Fair, The Seattle Art Fair, The San Diego Art Institute, and The Gwangju Biennale Hall. In New York, his work has been shown at Sotheby’s, Ille Arts, Amy Li Projects, Catinca Tabacaru Gallery, The National Arts Club, INVISIBLE-EXPORTS (AMC) and Dumbo Arts Center. Leo is included in the Luciano Benetton Collection: Imago Mundi. His work has been written about in the New York Times, Time Out Tokyo, The Brooklyn Rail, artnet, Hyperallergic and New American Paintings. Leo auctioned in NOW: Art of the 21st Century with Philips De Pury (2010).
