Collections

is a series of paintings depicting cherished objects from private collections of by friends and acquaintances.

With this series, I wanted to explore passion, and the objects that have meaning in a person’s life. A counterpoint to the discarded trash and abandoned building. I track down collectors, and photograph their collections in studio lighting conditions. While photographing, I ask questions and listen to the first-hand history of the collection, hear what meaningful stories arise; discover what matters to this person, their taste, their values, and their favorite things. Then, with the photographs as reference, I paint the objects isolated and spread evenly across a white background.

As a collection, obviously, the objects in each painting relate to one another. They share colors, shapes, materials and exhibit variations of common features. This series is a departure from past series of mine which celebrated what nobody cared about. Here, I examine possessions which carry intense personal value to an individual.