ARTIST STATEMENT

In Shannon Purcell's paintings, he engages in an ongoing dialogue with the culture of the past. Employing classical techniques alongside more contemporary approaches in oil paint and drawing from visual references in classic film, art history, literature, and popular culture allows him to utilize portraiture and figure painting to explore more complex ideas.

His process is guided by intuition, often combining seemingly unrelated elements that may reveal their connection over time. Through the layers of images, the actual model may become obscured, creating a visual reorganization where the original image and the model form a new recontextualization. This process becomes an act of discovery for both the artist and the viewer.

Shannon’s work revolves around themes of identity and the societal constructs projected onto it, exploring the masks we use to conceal ourselves and finding new ways to either use or break them. By illuminating the model with the contextual camouflage of projected images, his aim is to delve into more conceptual possibilities of portraiture.

Visit our Artsy Store to see all of the available inventory by Shannon Purcell and to purchase his work. Or email us at chloe@shewolfgallery.art to create a custom commission or arrange a studio visit.