Last week an expat returned to the Big Oyster to debut a show of monochromatic hot pink paintings that portray a surprising subtlety and calmness. The artist is Bree Chapin and she says “I am fascinated with the cultural implications of pink” and “I wrote this while sleep deprived in the back of a cab, lol”. She was on her way home from a venue she has worked extensively with, running a successful series of “art battles” with local artists. It is a live painting event with a panel of judges, prizes and a band to boot.
If you’ve been one of Bree’s collectors or followers for a while you’ll know that she doesn’t shy away from much. Her past work contains imagery of children pouring a bowl of bullets for breakfast. Neon vinyl and glitter paper work in tandem with the imagery of religion and war. Yet, Bree’s ability to render life is compelling. You may see a small painting of a nuclear mushroom and think “gosh that’s a lovely little cloud”. These new works expose Bree’s raw talent as a painter on an entirely different scale.
“The images in my work… it’s a lot of women depicted in moments of irresponsibility or in moments where they’re keeping their own counsel. Many are portraits, but some are still life paintings in a similar motif.”
”I’ve been painting primarily in this monochromatic neon pink palette for several years at this point. There are probably a dozen reasons I could give for it but I most sincerely love its vibrancy. I love how aggressive it can be. It’s difficult to ignore.”
– Bree Chapin
All Bree needs are 3 colors. Neon pink, white, and red for shadows. The lack of any pigments darker than a pure red paint gives the work a neon quality that goes beyond what is promised on the side of the squeeze tube. Photos do not do them justice.
The work in this show was all created in a self-imposed exile to Lisbon Portugal. After some hard years in tech, all while fostering her inner painter, Bree and her partner Colin decided to escape our beloved meat grinder for some respite. They landed on Lisbon, Portugal. It is a sister city to New York insofar as it’s connection to the waterways and a vibrancy of culture. In pace of life? Not so much it would seem.
”I’ve spent my entire adult life in New York City. I absolutely love New York, but I think at some point I realized I needed a change of pace. I have found so much renewed energy and inspiration in Lisbon. It’s a really magical place rich with history and poetry.”
Our Gotham may be one of hustlers, schemers and ego but it cannot be said that it is bereft of its own rich history, poetry and magic. Jutta gallery appears to be new on the scene and it’s yet to be seen where their curatorial ventures take them but they’ve picked well with their most recent show.
“Pink is simultaneously the color of Punk Rock, Vaporwave, Barbie and Pussy Riot. These things are associated with seismic shifts in our cultural attitudes. We are living through one relating to time, space and safety. I just wanted to dig into that.. if that makes sense. I wanted to give these figures some space to exist. I wanted to capture the moments where we make decisions in spite of permission.”
