June 6th – 29th

Paintings by Brooklyn artist Isaiah Gulino, June 6th to 29th.

Isaiah Gulino works in oil paint and mixed media combining influences from past and present while reflecting multiple psychological meanings into a singular time and place. Within this body of distorted imagery, Gulino integrates his upbringing in the Northeastern United States with his travels to South America, establishing both personal and foreign connections to architecture, religion, and celebration. His work relays open-ended narratives through disrupted forms of reality, which place sentimental value on memories frozen in time.

Opening Reception: Friday, June 7th, 6:30-8:30pm

About Isaiah Gulino:
Gulino is interested in perception and culture, and continues to seek unity in opposition through both representational and abstract painting simultaneously. This connection appears within the landscape-based subject as well: forming an active disruption of the synthetic world by natural forces. His work questions sustainability, as architecture and figures are fragmented and disintegrating on the surface of the picture. He grew up in the farming communities of upstate New York, studied painting in New Hampshire, and now lives and works in New York City. A cumulative range of stimuli continues to drive his work in diverse directions unique to his individual perception and human experience. isaiah-gulino.com

Q&A with Isaiah

How old were you when you created your first artwork?
I think around 4-5 years old I had made some drawings and paintings that my family and teachers applauded. We were always doing crafts or pottery at summer workshops or in pre-school. I didn’t consider them “art” but it was very exciting to experiment and engage in something of purpose.

How has your style changed over the years?
My style has been pretty consistent since finishing my BFA, however it has matured in many ways. There is more emphasis on color mixing; for example neutralizing complimentary hues to find correct temperatures of shadows. This helps to place unconventional layering techniques into a conceivable space.

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
My parents have always been very creative, my Mom always shared her love for painting, pottery, and writing with me. While my Dad is a very dedicated musician. I envied that and wanted to find my own creative voice and vision.

Why did you choose your medium?
I saw a lot of my classmates at New Hampshire Institute of Art who were very fluid with oil paint, achieving effects I wasn’t able to in acrylic. Mainly luminosity, as seen in historical renaissance work and contemporary realism. The spray paint and stenciling goes back to street art which I was very attracted to as a teenager.

What inspires you?
Originally nature and finding solitude in natural environments. Alongside traditional influence from landscape painters like JMW Turner or John Constable. Although living in New York City has introduced me to more travel and culture, where I’ve found a deeper inspiration from people and connection to humanity.

Where do you work?
I work in the art industry packing, crating and shipping valuable works from the worlds top artists. Working first hand and seeing the work of painters I’ve admired my whole life has definitely pushed me to want to develop a stronger sense of professionalism. I’ve had studio spaces in different warehouses in Brooklyn, but recently I have developed a studio in my own apartment.

What is your creative process like? How do you work?
My process usually begins with drawing and getting a physical understanding of space. Most time I enjoy beginning with technical line drawings over abstract grounds or color fields and then rendering on top with oil and introducing more color. Usually selecting and prioritizing different shapes or planes at varying levels of emphasis; while leaving other areas unfinished for previous layers to peek through on the surface. Layering is important to me and my time spent doing printmaking definitely instilled a more strategic approach to painting in so many ways.

Which artists do you admire?
Childe Hassam, Eduard Vuillard, Mancini, Pasini and Sargent definitely informed my historical basis. Richard Diebenkorn has always been a favorite. While Antonio Lopez Garcia, Gerhard Richter, Jenny Saville, Dana Schutz, Adrian Ghenie and David Hockney help me bridge the gap into more contemporary painting. The list could really go on …. a lot of people reference Edward Hopper while looking at my work.

What is your favorite piece that you’ve created?
I did a piece a couple years back of a San Francisco scene that I feel like really balanced a technical understanding with more expressive marks. It seemed to be successful in capturing the psychological essence more so than the literal visual interpretation.

Any advice to young or emerging artists?
Stay diligent even when things get hopeless. Always value personal growth no matter how small; rather than comparing yourself to others or worrying about what other people think about your work. Find influence in historical works and borrow from it, rather than emulating some other artist working in the same time period as you. Remember that Individuality and uniqueness can go further than technical ability. Be true to yourself!

Banner image: detail from Nuestra Senora La Luz (Our Lady of Light), oil and spray paint on panel