27 artists, each contributing a self portrait, in a show benefiting Flower Residency.
Every artist who does the residency gifts a painting to me. The first resident, Angela Fang Zirbes, asked what I wanted the painting to be, and I explained how I thought self portraits were the most revealing thing an artist could paint. So she painted a self portrait and every resident since has followed suit. Self Portrait Show is curated to highlight artists with a sense of self and a story to tell.
It's no surprise that I prefer figurative work. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy process, but I would rather story telling. The means should enhance the ends or at the very least not detract from them. The process itself shouldn't become the purpose. Often when it does, no one can understand the piece without explanation. The piece should be the explanation. It should tell the story. When you care about the story, you care about perspective and therefore, the author. They say you should "write what you know." There is nothing you know better than yourself. It should feed your work, and when it does, it's a beautiful thing. I could make a lofty statement about self portraiture telling the most meaningful story, but haven't I already?
Every artist who does the residency gifts a painting to me. The first resident, Angela Fang Zirbes, asked me what I wanted the painting to be, and I explained how I thought self portraits were the most revealing thing an artist could paint. So she painted a self portrait. Kevin Sabo, the next resident, saw her self portrait and made one as well. Then Juan Arango Palacios, then Alejandra Moros, then Tae Lee and most recently, Chloe West. You can see all these paintings hung in the residency at all times representing a visual history of the residents. Thus, the concept for Self Portrait Show was born.
Flower Residency grew out of my collection, which grew out of my personal taste. It aims to assist artists. But not just any artists. It aims to assist artists with a story to tell. Self Portrait Show is curated to highlight artists with a sense of self and a story. The show will benefit the residency and help support future artists. Story begets story.
Shows like this and May Flowers have generated funds to provide for an additional residency by 2027 that will support Los Angeles based artists. Los Angeles artists have been the biggest supporters of Flower Residency from helping select the artist to guiding them on their journey when they arrive. This new program will provide Los Angeles artists with identical backing besides the living arrangement including a studio to make work and stipends for supplies.
— David Maxwell, Flower Residency Host
Interested in a piece? flowerresidency@gmail.com
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a few extra shots from the show
Flower Residency