These are the last days to see Justin Orvis Steimer’s cave paintings in “homo galactian” at Catinca Tabacaru Gallery on Broome street, still on view through Sunday October, 9.
This is the artist’s second solo show with the gallery, in which he is presenting a new series of paintings on—boat sails—as opposed to paper or canvas. “Much of my work employs the use of found materials. These objects already have a life of their own and often provide an energetic connection to the time and space in which a painting is being created I have a strong affinity for painting on boat sails. Not only do they nourish my deep and romantic relationship with water, they are also extremely durable and allow paint to adhere exceedingly well,” the artist said.
2016
The series continues Steimer’s exploration of the spirit, translating energy into an ever-evolving vocabulary. “The pieces are words which are building my view of existence,” he said.
“The best descriptor I have for Justin’s work is ‘authentic.’ Justin is one of those artists who is able to translate exactly what is inside of him into his paintings,” said gallery founder Catinca Tabacaru.
pigment, oil, acrylic and ink on boat sale
“Justin was the first solo show I did at the gallery. He was really one of the reasons I opened the gallery in the first place. I got as far as PULSE Miami without a permanent space when in December 2013 Cornell DeWitt invited me to take part in IMPULSE with a solo of Justin’s work. I sold out the booth that year, re-hung and sold some more. The volume of interest was exhilarating and it dawned on me that I needed a gallery space. We, me as a dealer and each artist, were ready to present ourselves to the world in a mature and committed way,” she added.
Steimer’s work focuses on his environment, whether a space, person, or object, translating it into marks, lines, and colors. Most recently, his work was included in the BAM’s “New Wave” exhibition (2015), “Personal Structures” at Palazzo Mora during the 56th Venice Biennial (2015), and in “Zig Zag Zim” at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe (2016). Steimer is a founding member of the CTG collective.
