CRIS WORLEY FINE ARTS

PAUL MANES
Into the Weeds

Nov 16 – Dec 28, 2024

Cris Worley Fine Arts is proud to present our eighth solo exhibition of oil paintings by

Paul Manes. The exhibition entitled, Into the Weeds, opens Saturday, November 16th, and will be on view through December 28th. The gallery will hold an Opening Reception for the artist, Saturday, November 16th, from 5-7pm. The artist will be in attendance.

Like all great artists, Paul Manes’ work has evolved over time. The clearest evidence of this is Manes’ many different subjects – ranging from figural forms to entirely abstracted patterns. Recent exhibitions depict the exceptionality of his technique – as either figural or abstracted, he contemplates and renders themes of personal interest. At first glance, these new paintings may seem disjointed from one another. Whether it be the differing color palettes of the landscape images or the wall of rain or the bowls falling upon one another, Manes’ new works seem to be a random smattering of subjects across his oeuvre. Yet, in this new show, the artist invites us to see how his subject matter has been affected through his own experiences.

Manes’ new work reflects his own physical move from New York City to Colorado a decade ago. Manes traded the concrete jungle for a sky of stars, and that location shift has changed his subject matter. In this new show, Manes has moved from the sky to the landscape, where he interacts with different elements and environments that he sees every day. Many of the works depicted reflect images of meadows and plants, and Manes’ large canvases and use of perspective allow for us all to step into this world he lives in daily. Every new painting acts as a window into another world – one where we get to see landscapes through the lens of the artist. Suddenly, we are alongside Manes on his motorcycle ride from home to the studio through the Colorado mountains.

JOHNNY DEFEO
Wild America

Oct 19 – Nov 30, 2024

Johnny DeFeo’s new exhibition, Wild America, is aptly named for his infatuation with the last remaining unspoiled landscapes of the United States. The core of DeFeo’s painting practice is working in plein air, painting in the outdoors amidst the beauty of America’s most pristine landscapes. Following in the footsteps of artists such as Thomas Cole, Frederic Edwin Church, and Albert Bierstadt, DeFeo delights in documenting American public lands through his paintings and expands upon the work of such artists with commentary on the negative effects of human intervention.

Most recently, DeFeo has been bringing his plein air painting practice indoors, setting up his easel to paint taxidermy collections in unexpected places such as the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and Cabela’s Outfitters. An extension of his interiors series, DeFeo is subtly introducing symbols into his work that act as disruptors to the utopic residential spaces he creates. For DeFeo, these scenes of taxidermy collections nod to the strained relationship between humankind and wild animals. Once full of life, these majestic creatures have become trophies- inert, powerless, and decorative. With both the interiors and taxidermy paintings, the artist points to humankind’s struggle with a desire to control and dominate the natural world, even while we also hold a deep love and respect for it.

Together, the works in Wild America ask viewers to confront our relationship to the great outdoors. Be it wild and revelatory, or protective and reverent, DeFeo encourages us to feel deeply and celebrate passionately.

Cris Worley Fine Arts
1845 Levee St. #110, Dallas, TX 75207.
214.745.1415,
Gallery Hours are
Tuesday – Saturday from 11am – 5pm and by appointment.
www.crisworley.com