Bryan Ricci’s Dogtown

Dogtown, 2007.  Oil on photograph mounted on panel

My friend James Panozzo over at Lawrence Asher Gallery will be featuring one of my new favorite dog art works in this weekend, Bryan Ricci’s Dogtown.  The piece, part of Ricci’s first solo show there entitled Don’t Feed The Animals, juxtaposes the simplified background of blurred patterns and shapes of the urban/oceanfront photograph with the spotlighted coyote panted in "obsessive detail with a pixel-like quality."

Working with the contrasts of style and subject, Ricci aims " to bring to light the ever-increasing disparities between the
limitedness of what we allow ourselves to see and the enormity and
timelessness of the world that goes unnoticed. [His] paintings serve as a
reminder of human ignorance and neglect, an invitation to look deeper,
and a challenge to question and examine one’s own perceptions."

On it’s own, I think Dogtown is a gorgeous piece.  And truth be told, I don’t usually respond to artwork with a social message.  But I think Ricci has deftly made his point in a beautiful way.  And that’s true art!

Update:  James just sent over another Ricci piece with similar themes but a different energy.  Very cool!

Summer Lovin’, 2008.  Oil on photograph mounted on panel.

Information:

Lawrence Asher Gallery
5820 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Opening Reception March 15, 6 – 10 pm.

The show runs until April 12.