Artist Statement:
My personal investigation into life deals with the human condition of trying to find a sense of balance that seems to exist between polar extremes – that the human condition is to attempt to find a sense of balance between these polarities -this balance is a metaphor of life
This exhibition is generously sponsored by the City of Thousand Oaks and Judy & Len Linton.
Jack Reilly (b. 1950) widely recognized as a trailblazer in the Abstract Illusion Movement, a style where paintings ‘bend the eye’ to achieve three-dimensionality on a two-dimensional surface, returns to Southern California for a concise but stirring re-evaluation of his artistic production.
In 1980, Reilly burst into L.A. with his solo show at the indomitable Molly Barnes Gallery (a tastemaker who gave early shows to John Baldessari, Billy Al Bengston and Gronk). This formative exhibition helped to cement Reilly’s reputation of creating visually powerful and unique works of art – works that converge abstract expressionistic boldness, minimalist restraint with trompe l’oeil wonderment.
As Suzanne Muchnic, Los Angeles Times art critic, observed, “He does offer immediate pleasure in carefully orchestrated compositions, meticulous technique, complexity of shadows and ambiguity of light source.”
Impressed by Reilly’s unique style exhibited at the Barnes Gallery, Donald Brewer (then Director of LA’s first museum -USC’s Fisher Gallery) quickly arranged for Reilly to be a featured artist for The Reality of Illusion, a national traveling exhibition (Denver Art Museum, Oakland Museum, Johnson Museum at Cornell, and USC Fisher Gallery). From then on, there was no looking back.
Reilly’s prolific artistic output has resulted in numerous public commissions, domestic and international exhibitions, and his works are in the permanent collection of several museums throughout the country.
As the CMATO exhibition will show, Reilly’s works are bright, clean and constrained by geometry but not artistic convention. Although the Getty Museum’s Pacific Standard Time exhibition (2012) solidified Reilly’s place in the zeitgeist of the 80’s – an era of extremes, political movements, the beginning of globalization- do not be mistaken in thinking his works are out of time with our age. His works are perpetual manifestations of an artist’s investigation of the human condition – an ageless inquiry into the nature of our being.
Balancing Act: Paintings by Jack Reilly complements CMATO’s permanent installation of Betty Gold’s sculptures.
2006
60 x 120 inches
Oil and mixed media on shaped canvas
Convergence Series
2012
42 x 60 inches
Acrylic and metallic pigments on shaped canvas
Basic Object Series
1993
65 x 120 inches
Acrylic on shaped canvas
Abstract Illusionism Series
2015
37 x 41 inches
Acrylic on shaped canvas
Abstract Illusionism Series
2015
22 x 27 inches
Oil on shaped canvas
Icon Series
ARTFUL ANGLES
A free family drop-in art making program focusing on the artful side of geometry. This hands-on art activity is based on California Common Core State Standards for mathematics and geared for children (8-11). Using the art of collage and mosaic, math concepts focusing on geometric shapes, proportion and symmetry will be taught by an experienced elementary school teacher.
DATES & TIMES:
All programs take place at CMATO and are inspired by the MADI art movement. MADI art broadly focuses on Movement, Abstraction, Dimension and Invention.
GALLERY TALK: JACK REILLY & MOLLY BARNES
Monday, September 19, 2016 @ 7:00 pm. Jack Reilly and Molly Barnes will reunite to discuss contemporary art.
Barnes has been a bi-coastal art dealer for over 40 years. She opened her first gallery in Los Angeles where she discovered John Baldessari, Mark Kostabi, Gronk and a number of photorealists like Robert Cottingham.
Barnes is also the voice of Art Talk on Art News radio and television, and is a professor at Otis MFA program where she teaches artists “How to Get Hung.” She is currently in the process of writing her book about Abstract Expressionist, Willem de’Kooning. She is very active in the Los Angeles art scene and is on the board of the Century City Arts Commission.
We are delighted to reunite Jack and Molly for this special event @ CMATO. Admission is free
