The blood of violence and academia clash in this new show

Brooklyn-based artist, Nathaniel Mary Quinn, is bringing his Cubism and Baroque to the contemporary art market. Showcasing at Pace London from September 5th, Quinn's bold, abstract works deal with the "visions" that embody both his childhood upbringing and present experiences.

The disassembled facial features emblazoned on a large scale, capture the essence of Quinn's unimaginable background. Growing up in Chicago, Quinn was witness to the heightened hostility, violence, and poverty inherent in the community, his open perspective of society has translated itself into relentless artistic expression. "So many years later, I continue to yearn for my family, although I prefer to be in love with their absence rather than their presence. My confidence and aggressiveness, the blood of violence that continues to run through my veins as well as the blood of academia and artistic progress," are the various factors that contribute to the construction of Quinn's identity. 

Citing Freud's agressive paint stroke and Bacon's immediacy of emotion as capitvating influential factors, Quinn notes: "I  find myself perpetually intrigued by the courageous break from traditional perspectives on art production that are widely known throughout all of the modern art period: it's a widespread re-interpretation of reality." Quinn's practice is not an attempt to symbolise an experience or emotional disposition, but to bring to the surface buried memories and emotions that previously lay dormant. 

Highlights of the exhibition include Monique and Diane, whose contorted facial expressions and distinct characters create a visual representation of Quinn's inner-subjectivity – beautiful yet melancholic. A firm believer in the contemporary art program at Pace, Quinn said, "It's my aim to sustain the prowess of the gallery’s exhibition practice."

Past/Present will be exhibiting from September 5 – October 4 at Pace London.