Mark Innerst

Recent Paintings

November 18 - December 31, 2004

Statement

In his third solo exhibition at the John Berggruen Gallery, Mark Innerst continues to investigate and expand his definition of landscape. The subjects of many of these paintings are sweeping seascapes and vast skies, with a focus on the horizon line. The role of land and peopled environments is secondary in these paintings. It is only from a distance that the viewer catches glimpses of these small, delicate, almost transient vistas of humanity. Harbors, carnivals, and beaches are the subjects of these outdoor scenes. This exhibition will include several paintings on board, as well as a number of pastels and acrylic works on paper.

Each painting is a study in the experience of light. His paintings glow with an internal light, which earns him the reputation as a contemporary Luminist painter. Innerst's work is known for its dappled, shimmering light that he achieves by numerous applications of paint. His surfaces are completed with a glossy, almost glass-like finish which reflects and attracts even more light.

The paintings on board are framed in large, usually dark wood frames, which are designed and handcrafted for each work individually by the artist himself. The diminutive size of his works combined with the manner of framing create an intimate viewing experience as the viewer is forced to step in close to the painting and focus on the detail and flawless surface of his landscapes.

Innerst's work is included in many private and public collections including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, also in New York.