“Tyree Guyton: Love, Sam” at Martos Gallery
NOVEMBER 01, 2019 - DECEMBER 22, 2019
Martos
Gallery is pleased to present Love, Sam, Tyree Guyton’s first New York solo
exhibition at Martos. This exhibition will present new and old work by Guyton
including portraits, assemblages, and works from Guyton’s famous door series
Tyree’s Doors, as well as works on paper by Guyton’s grandfather and mentor,
Sam Mackey.
The name
Tyree Guyton may conjure references to his long-standing Heidelberg Project,
which began in 1986. This impressive landmark is recognized as one of the most
influential art environments in the world, and Guyton it’s pioneer;
incorporating large installation works into an urban community, which
ultimately cast a spotlight on poverty and neglect. However, Guyton has always
maintained his studio practice.
At the age
of nine, Guyton’s grandfather gave him his first paint brush – it became his magic
wand. Together they would drive around the city of Detroit looking for things
to turn into art. He imbued a sense of whimsy in Guyton while encouraging him
to trust his instincts.
Guyton’s
work speaks to a history of objects, places, and people. His portrait series,
referred to as “Faces of God,” shows how multihued faces all share one thing in
common: large choppy teeth. Guyton says the inner man is always smiling no
matter the circumstances of your life. Paint and assemblage are married to
transcend Guyton’s work into a conceptual practice. You can find traces of
avant-garde figuration in Guyton’s drawings and Guyton poignantly uses found
objects like toilets, fountains, and flags while mining his constant desire for
social change and awareness. For Guyton, trinkets become both artifact and art.
And if a face can be a window to the soul, then Tyree Guyton is a
gatekeeper.
For Love,
Sam, Guyton pays tribute to Sam Mackey; Guyton’s friend, mentor and a man who
taught him how to mix colors and reminded him to always clean his brushes.
Event
website: http://www.martosgallery.com