The West Gallery is excited to present Apparition, a solo exhibition by Sunny Samuel. This group of abstract paintings presents fluctuating figure-ground relationships that appear to playfully ricochet between fact and fiction with microscopic inspiration and precisely drafted expression. Often informed by real-life experiences of optical perception, tennis court athleticism, and biological research, he explores intimate spaces with layers of meaning. Notions of navigation and experimentation appear to fuel the action and order of dynamic compositions; these optimistic pieces seem to test ideas and expand understanding. Like treasure maps unfolding or puzzles piecing together, Samuel’s paintings welcome analytical scrutiny and invite joyful anticipation.
In Apparition A, 2022, acrylic on panel, 24 x 24 inches we see a constellation of overlapping spheres hovering in a white field in various sizes and colors. Drawn with tightly wound linework in an array of colors – blues, reds, magentas, greens, and yellows – these circular shapes are translucent like window screens or tinted lenses. New shapes emerge from layered areas and vibrate with glowing optically-mixed colors. Stepping back to view the entire painting, the bright openness of the white ground amplifies rich color and shape intersections that imply movement or even metamorphosis like organic cell structures dividing or Venn diagrams multiplying.
Born in Gulbarga, India, Sunny Samuel is based in Los Angeles, CA. Samuel received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of La Verne and his Master of Fine Arts from the University of California Santa Barbara. His paintings, installations, and drawings have been featured in exhibitions in Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, and Santa Barbara. Presently a solo exhibition of his recent works is on view at SPARC Gallery in South Pasadena, CA.