David Bates

Black Water

May 5 - June 18, 2005

Statement

John Berggruen Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of recent paintings by David Bates. The exhibition opens Thursday, May 5th, and will continue through Saturday, June 11th.

In this exhibition, David Bates, a Texas native, paints the marshlands and backcountry of his home state for the first time since the 1980's. According to Bates, "The landscape and environment is the focus of this show." He explores his local habitat from many different angles: from the time of day, to indigenous wildlife, to varying weather conditions. Bates' distinctly American style is defined by his use of copious amounts of paint, broad flat brushwork, and bold outlining of forms. To Bates, Black Water represents his "love of paint and love of the subject matter."

John Berggruen Gallery has represented David Bates for over twenty years. Black Water is the 10th exhibition with John Berggruen Gallery. David Bates' work is included in numerous public collections including the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Dallas Museum of Art, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C., San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the Whitney Museum of Art.