acrylic on plastic figures, papier mache, celluclay, and styrofoam on a gatorboard panel laminated with sintraVarious Small Fires
Description
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The artwork features a rugged, weathered metal sculpture that resembles an abstract fish or reptilian form. The piece is predominantly composed of earthy, rust-colored tones, evoking a sense of age and decay. The overall composition is asymmetrical, with sharp, angular protrusions and contours that create a dynamic, almost skeletal appearance. The artist has skillfully manipulated the metal to achieve a textured, almost organic surface, suggesting a connection between the natural and the industrial. The work may be a commentary on the fragility of life or the impact of human activity on the natural world. ...
John Miller traverses painting, sculpture, photography, video, and installation, probing the hidden structures that shape contemporary culture. Rooted in the conceptual art movement, his work interrogates identity, consumerism, and social structures, using art as a lens to explore how ideology is embedded in everyday life. Miller often integrates found objects, text, and images to blur the boundaries between art and the ordinary, crafting works that operate simultaneously as critique, observation, and reflection. By doing so, he encourages viewers to question assumptions about society, culture, and the frameworks that govern human behavior. A central element of Miller’s practice is the performative dimension of his work, which highlights how meaning is constructed through context, display, and interaction. His projects often juxtapose humor with critical inquiry, revealing contradictions and tensions inherent in modern life. Through his thoughtful engagement with material, media, and concept, Miller creates immersive experiences that invite contemplation and dialogue. His art functions as both an analytical tool and a narrative device, offering insight into contemporary existence while challenging the audience to reconsider the intersection of culture, identity, and visual experience in the world around them. ...
Various Small Fires (Los Angeles /Dallas /Seoul) began as a series of conversations with artists and curators in Esther Kim Varet’s Venice Beach kitchen while working on her doctoral dissertation. VSF debuted in Hollywood as an official gallery in 2015 with a roster of artists and its current Johnston MarkLee Architects-designed building. The Hollywood gallery contains three exhibition spaces, a unique sound corridor, and an outdoor gallery. VSF’s exhibition program explores several curatorial lines: climate, equality, and an international conversation. The gallery is known for offering artists debut shows, creating intergenerational conversations among the artists on its roster, and solidifying artists’ legacies within art history. In 2019, VSF opened a second location in the Hannam neighbourhood of Seoul, South Korea, followed recently this Spring by VSFs third outpost in Dallas, Texas. While Varet has very personal connections to both locations, they are also superlative art communities. These expansions emphasise the gallery’s commitment to innovation and global dialogue in the twenty-first century. In 2021, VSF became a member of the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA). ...
