Los Angeles based artist Joe O’Neill debuts two concurrent painting exhibits Labor Day Weekend 2019
SECRET HEAD TRIP / WHAT STRUCK ME
August 31, 2019 – September 9, 2019
Opening Reception: Saturday, August 31, 2019, 7-10pm PST
Keystone Art Space 338 S. Ave 16, Los Angeles, CA 90031
Gallery hours: 1-5pm daily
SECRETE HEAD TRIP is an ongoing series of abstractions that are text based – reflecting an interest in language, lettering, typography and traditional sign painting that has informed O’Neill’s work over the years. Abstracting the text shifts the focus to the gesture of the hand-painted letterforms and eliminates recognizable words and associations, or baggage they carry.
“The intent is not to create a puzzle for the viewer to solve, though some may take it as a challenge.” says O’Neill.
WHAT STRUCK ME is a show of paintings on paper, drawn from multiple sources: photos, events, conversations, memories, experiences and the internet. “These are meant to be faster, spontaneous, experimental. A way to stay in the moment artistically, paint more broadly, take chances, break out of routine,” say O’Neill. Some of the works are painted on top of others, paint from the newer works bleeding onto the paintings underneath, adding unpredictability to the finished works.
Joe O’Neill born, raised and currently resides in Los Angeles who’s exhibitions have included: Beyond Baroque, Serious Topics, Coagula Curatorial, Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, and Collin College. His work has also appeared in TV shows such as Big Little Lies, NCIS, and Sharp Objects. O’Neill studied painting at San Francisco Art Institute (BFA 94) and Santa Monica College.