In his first New York solo exhibition, TOMMY FITZPATRICK's recent paintings depict sharply cropped views of the highly reflective facades of skyscrapers and commercial buildings. The inherent geometric abstraction of glass windows and steel mullions is the focus rather than the individual architectural programs of the buildings as designed by Philip Johnson, Cesar Pelli, and others. Although all of the buildings depicted are located in Houston, TX, where the artist lived for several years, universality prevails.
Flatly painted in acrylic, FITZPATRICK strongly emphasizes color relationships - predominantly blues, grays, purples, and browns in the paintings on view. Optical tensions, including carefully placed shadows, energize each painting. The illusion of volumetric space is a counterpoint to the flat physical surface of the canvas. Architecture is simply the foil for his exploration of geometric abstraction and color, not the end point.
Born in Texas, FITZPATRICK received his M.F.A. from Yale University, New Haven, CT, in 1993. His work was recently included in Urban Realities at the Galveston Art Center, Galveston, TX. His work is in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. He currently lives and works in Savannah, GA.
The exhibition will be on view at the Charles Cowles Gallery, 537 West 24th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues in Chelsea. Hours are 10am to 6pm, Tuesday through Saturday.
There will be a reception for the artist on Friday, November 2, from 6-8 pm.