Gary Komarin, a New York born artist and former student of abstract expressionist
Philip Guston, reveals not only the creative process in visually complete layered
pieces, but hints at his origins. The son of an architect, Komarin's work, while it
implies a delicate human-ness, suggests architectural form. His work speaks of the
gray and uncertain areas of life. A time caught between recognition and definition
where the images themselves become the zenith of focus.
Komarin is known for exploring
shapes, at once strange and familiar, seemingly imprecise yet eloquent. Komarin plays
on a viewer's capacity for childlike wonderment. His simple yet sophisticated cakes,
wigs and vessels beckon us to observe and interact with their outrageous collective
and identity.
Cakes, wigs and vessels are the common motifs of the pieces that Komarin created at
Tandem Press. Using a cartoon-like expressionist style, he presents his objects
humorously. The forms are quite abstract, sometimes resembling a building or a chair,
the images are mysterious and serious, exposing the complicated emotions associated
with occasions for serving cakes and donning wigs.
Komarin was the recipient of the Joan Mitchell Prize in Painting. He has also been
awarded The Edward Albee Foundation Fellowship, The Elizabeth Foundation for the
Arts Grant, and the New York foundation for the Arts Grant. Komarin's work has appeared
in numerous solo exhibitions at The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, The Newark Museum,
The Montclair Museum, and The New Orleans Center for Contemporary Arts to name a few.
His work has been written up in the New York Times, Art in America, and Arts Magazine.
