Robert Townsend’s work explores the mystique of vintage Americana. Lustrous images of sweet delights, smooth sets of wheels, and commonplace objects and scenes of the 1950’s and 1960’s are the artists’ inspirations. Townsend was raised in LA by parents who had grown up in 1950’s Los Angeles. His fascination with the culture of this period has drawn from artists whose work equates to a very specifically Californian aesthetic: Ed Ruscha, Robert Bechtle, Wayne Thiebaud, and Ralph Goings. Townsend considers his works “pop realism”, allowing viewers to indulge in a sweet nostalgic fantasy of retro American ingenuity.
In imagery meant to evoke the road trips, trail markers and European adventures of youth, William Lagattuta uses arrows to point forward a seemingly directionless path. They are a guide, which exemplify the endless possibilities and directions we have to choose from when following our passions and ambitions in life. Lagatutta himself chose the path of artistry in 2007 after working as a television correspondent and anchorman for over three decades, allowing his artwork to serve as a personal quest into creatively understanding and translating the complexities of life onto tangible mediums of paint, wood, and metal.
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