*knu me*
acrylic, colored pencil, marker, spray paint on cardboard
20"x23"

nobody waves goodbye is an impressive showing from artist Kenyon Mason that mixes traditional drawing techniques with an exuberant, youthful use of materials to create portraits that are as arresting as they are ephemeral. He combines cardboard, newspapers, and spray paints to create enigmatic, emotional images that capture the constantly changing landscape of young adulthood.

The body of work is refreshing. The use of unframed cardboard as a material is fearless. Mason is an early career artist; he is brave. The newspaper elements make the work feel current, as though the subjects happen against the background of the news. Joyful bursts of color crash into each other to form background elements. Expressions are still forming from delicately applied dry media techniques. The people depicted are still crystalizing & coming into being. They have all the potential of early adulthood, the lines of their faces are sometimes left incomplete.

Most of the works are self-portraits; Mason’s face emerges and recedes. It is interesting to see the artist contemplate his own image across pieces. Exquisite details highlight small changes; glasses change, his posture shifts. Other figures enter the show but are far more ambiguous than Mason’s self-portraits. It can be easier to know your own inner world than others; Mason is on a journey to self-discovery.

Mason is comfortable with his materials and subject matter. His work is timely and current. He has captured the feeling of our time in cardboard & spray paint. He can find safety in an arguably dangerous world and then share that sense of calm with his audience. Despite headlines, he is at peace in the world he creates in his art.

See nobody waves goodbye in the Harrison Center’s Hank & Dolly’s Gallery through August 25th and on our online gallery through September 29th. All pieces are available for purchase online and in person.