Duane Paul
Artist Statement
I explore the themes of identity alienation, self-realization and shared and individual struggle. Much of my art is process driven and through the process of making, physically working and manipulating material. The physical process of making the work is as important as the "finished" piece. The nature of my process and practice is to build layers and layers creating sculptural records documenting exploration of a concern. Through the device of repetition, I create a symbolic language -a code- for establishing and solving the themes I am currently exploring. As a multi-medium artist, the methods of my exploration are varied: sculpture, painting, installation and photography, are used/useful modes to extrude and explore these themes.
I continue to ruminate on the themes of desire, sex, sexuality, loss, decay, deterioration and ideas of the impermanent. My work, is concentrated on the fractured, fragmented memories of childhood, strong together and conflated by my adult/grow-up reflection. The work explores and plays with the structure, context, and symbolism and totems. The works are like totems, structures with a sense of stoic stillness, that serve as venerated communicative emblems of my experience with people, family, lovers, linage and my chosen kinships. Text, textures, fragmented images/photographic montages.
Like the linguistic usage of the ellipsis, the work is stripped and gapped.
The process of physically doing is important. It's about building up the surfaces metaphoric (memories and experiences). The process then is to tear through, and expose those layers to get the desired effect of damage/decay. The intent of the surface treatment is to evoke the wear and tear of living. Be it, human bodies, relationships, or the physical spaces we occupy. This process is about pushing the material to its natural limits and then a bit further as a part of creating these works. Titles are used to incite memory, remembrances of unfinished conversations, questions unanswered or lingering questions yet to be asked. This body of work emphasizes the history, beauty, significance and vibrancy of decay.
"A star shines most brightly as it dies".
Group Show
2016 February - April Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery /Barnsdall Art Park Foundation
Skin: Photographic Installation
2016 February The Grammy Foundation & Toyota Green Initiative
Sculpture Installation /Materials Sustainable ? Abstract Arrangements
2015 Oct - Sept Boston Court Performing Arts Center
Public Work: Sculpture Installation "Fractured Heart -Re-imagined"
2015 Pasadena MiniGrant recipient
2015 Aug - April 2016 CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM (CAAM)
Group Show: Hard Edged: Geometrical Abstraction and Beyond
2015 July - August Lyons Wier Gallery, NYC
Group Show: Unlimited Potential
2015 June -Jan 2016: Department of Cultural Affairs of Los Angeles- Public Art Division
& LAX World Airports (Tom Bradley International Terminal)
2015 June We Choose Art Curatorial:
Group Show: Rainbow Shift - Sculpture Installation
2014 October November: Coagula Curatorial
Group Show Painting and Sculpture
2014 June - Sept CAAM (CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM): Group Show
Recent Acquisitions to The Permanent Collection -Curatorial Selections
2014 May - June Pens Press Gallery/ Culver City Bitches Rule - Group Show
Digital Photographs
2014/2017:Selection: Department of Cultural Affairs/Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles World Airports Exhibitions and Installation Curatorial Pool
2013 December Miami Basel - MUSE Gallery - Group Show - Works on Paper
2013 September- Oct Reginald Ingraham Gallery - Solo Show
Speaking Tongues: The Material of Communication
2013 June - July Subliminal projects Gallery: Group Show
Good Intentions: Re-Imagining Rockwell's Boy Scouts - Sculpture/Installation
2013 January - February: George Billis Gallery LA - Group Show
Colorful Antics Sculpture//Installation
2012/2013 September - January: Watts Towers Art Center (DCA/lA) Group show
Baila con Duende - Sculpture/installation
2012 June - January (2013): CAAM (CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM)
SHARED THREADS Sculpture // installation
2012 August - September: Avenue 50 Studio Gallery - Group show
Consortium -Sculpture// installation
2012 June - July West Hollywood Library / one city one pride arts festival
Black is black aint - Sculpture // installation
2012 FEBRUARY - APRIL The Advocate & Gochis Galleries
Group Show: I See you, I'm here - Sculpture // Drawings
2011 June - January 2012 - Los Angeles Craft and Folk Art Museum
Folk Art Everywhere - Sculpture
2011 August - September: Fremont Gallery Group Show-
The Unusual Suspects - Sculpture & Painting
2011 April - June: William Grant Still Art Center Group Show-
Images: Iconic to Insurgent & Divine to Decadent Sculpture / installation
(City of Los Angeles Certificate of Recognition awarded)
2011 February - March: The Advocate & Gochis Galleries?
Group Show- Consciousness: Ancestral! Abstract! Audacious!
Sculpture/ Installation/ Drawings
2011 February - ArtSlant Showcase Winner- Los Angeles - Sculpture
2011 January - May Los Angeles Craft and Folk Art Museum
Folk Art Everywhere Sculpture
2010 August - October - Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery/Barnsdall Park Group Show-
The Los Angeles Biennial Juried Exhibition Painting
2010 November ArtSlant Showcase Winner - Los Angeles -Painting
2010 June-July ATB Soulful Salon Gallery Group Show
Los Angeles Sculpture & Drawings
2009 November ArtSlant Showcase Winner- Los Angeles -Sculpture
2007 September SCOPE ART FAIR/BOREAS Gallery
Showcase MIAMI- works on paper
2007 September - 626 Gallery Group Show
Artist in the Market Place - Los Angeles Drawing/Etching
2007 August 626 Gallery Group Show
Masked Unmasked Los Angeles - Drawing/Water Color Series
2007 July - Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery/Barnsdall Park Group Show -
Sculpture
2006 September Art Seen (Los Angeles) Group Show
Los Angeles Digital Photographs
2005 September - Boreas Gallery (2 PERSON SHOW)-(NYC)
Fluid Incursions
2004 June - Williamsburg Art & Historical Center Gallery
SINGULAR OBSESSION - Breakthrough as Process & Art: Creative Projects of
Persistent Preoccupation
2004 October - AFF Contemporary Art Fair (NYC)
Selection- AFF Catalog Committee Sculpture Selection
2004 Morsel Gallery- Williamsburg Brooklyn-(NYC)
Group Show - Inaugural Ball - Sculpture
2004 February Boreas Gallery (NYC) - SOLO SHOW
Contained (Paintings, Sculpture, Drawings)
2002 May -June- Leslie Loahman Gallery (NYC) Group Show
Visual/Verbal/Tactile
2002 Feb - April - Cajun Creole Gallery (NYC)
Drawings / Paintings "Spiritual Confrontations" series
2002 June - August - Cajun Creole Gallery (NYC)
Reflections on a struggle
2002 Pierogi 2000 Gallery (NYC) Group Show
2002 October Esthesia Productions (NYC) Group Show
Fusion: paintings and installations
2001 November - Visual Aids Gallery (NYC) Group Show
Postcards from the Edge
2001 June - Tom of Finland Foundation (NYC) Group Show
The Erotic in Art
1998 May John 29: Bergensen16 Gallery (NYC) Group Show
Obscene Gateways
1997 June West Side Gallery Group Show (NYC)
Visual Voices, Aids in Our Time
1997 March Leslie Loahman Gallery Group Show (NYC)
Propensity for Excitation
1997 February- Leslie Loahman Gallery (NYC) Group Show
Explorations of Love
