Troy Lamarr Chew II
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Altman Siegel is pleased to present an exhibition of new paintings by Troy Lamarr Chew II. This will be the artist's second solo exhibition with the gallery.Chew's most recent series depicts close friends and relatives as "invisible." In these beautifully painted contemporary portraits, Chew reflects on the various ways in which he and his circle have experienced social and societal invisibility. The works intentionally highlight and elevate the invisibility of their subjects. Each painting is masterfully detailed and carefully articulates its subject with precision, yet the rendered figures are "missing" key information. Any part of the body not covered by clothing is shown as if transparent; skin merges with the colors and textures of its surroundings. These vaporous characters are defined by their circumstances, the signifiers or logos on their clothing, their positions in the workforce, and the cars they drive.
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In stark contrast to much of Eurocentric canonical portraiture history, Chew's subjects have been chosen due to lack of perceived visibility, which is further evident in the theme of hidden labor that runs through the exhibition. The paintings all depict people in their work environment. Although the work speaks to larger issues of visibility and unacknowledged labor in society, these works take on a personal note. They are mostly people working in the background to support the artist's practice: his mom, the manufacturer/factory owner of his garments for Wetpaint, curators/gallerists/collectors who have supported him, etc.
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Chew has experienced the sensation of transparency throughout different eras of his life. Working as a driver in San Francisco allowed him to silently observe, listen, and absorb information he might not otherwise have had access to. In this sense, being perceived as invisible has its advantages. If you are ungraspable, you cannot be caught. You are impervious. If utilized correctly, it can be a superpower.
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