“Floral Nocturnes”
an exhibition of photographic works by Gary Justis
this online exhibition can be viewed at Artsy
Exhibition dates: July 4 – September 30, 2023
Gary Justis’ latest photographic works are luminous images of flowers, and are the subject of an exhibition now viewable on Artsy.
Justis is widely known for his kinetic sculptures: mechanical objects, sometimes incorporating video, that move, make sounds and project light. A decade ago Justis began digitally capturing his sculpture’s light projections, and these initial forays into photography have grown into a significant body of work. His early photographs were deliberately abstract color forms set against a black ground which simultaneously shifted between the micro and the macro and alluded to mysterious personages/presences or imagined cosmic novae. Justis created a technique of manipulating light sources to reflect from a range of shiny surfaces onto a flat white surface, and capturing the images in the viewfinder of a digital camera. This approach to photography, that of photographing light, is completely unique.
above: (l) “Rose #1″, 2023. Edition of 3, 36″ x 24”.; (r) “Three Blues”, 2023. Edition of 3, 36″ x 24″. Archival pigment prints.
The artist’s newest images also incorporate light, and despite their recognizable subject matter, still retain the mysteriousness of the earlier work. For the “Floral Nocturnes” images Justis photographed the illuminated filaments of ornamental light fixtures from the 1930’s and 40’s and orchestrated the colorful incandescent bouquets against a shadowy ground. These radiant still lives recontextualize a technology that was sophisticated for its time through the lens of the digital present, while incorporating elements of technology, artificiality, nostalgia and sci-fi to create a hybrid of folk and tech aesthetics.
above: “Floral Filament #1B”, 2023. Archival pigment print, edition of 3. 48″ x 34″.
Critic and artist Paul Krainak’s beautifully written essay about Gary Justis’ Floral Filaments photographs was published recently in Bad At Sports. Read the article here. Krainak penned an earlier article on Justis’ sculpture that can be read here.
T he twelve prints in the exhibition are available in several sizes and can be printed on paper or aluminum panel. Purchases can be made directly through Artsy’s secure portal. Additional information is available on request from Manneken Press.
“Floral Filament #4”, 2023. Archival pigment print, edition of 3.
Gary Justis: Floral Nocturnes can be viewed online on Artsy now through September 30, 2023.
Contact Manneken Press for additional information or to inquire about purchasing any of the works in the exhibition.
About the artist
