Glen Gauthier
Glen Gauthier is a mixed media collage artist who has exhibited in major cities across the United States. Recent exhibitions include galleries such as SoNa Chicago Contemporary Art, Taylor & Ponce Contemporary Art in New York City, double showings at Umbrella Gallery in Dallas, and a solo exhibit at Gallery 440 in Fort Worth, Texas. Notable publications include features in Contemporary Collage Magazine issue # 24, triple inclusion in Art Folio books, and cover of Salaan Magazine Volume 3. Glen’s works remain in the collections of Mercedes Benz Financial and Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis.
The collage artworks are montages of precise clippings from Glen’s collection of old books, brochures, images, and documents incorporated on canvas with acrylic paint. Glen takes inspiration from color field painting for a basis of his works with huge swathes of space on the canvas blocked up by monochromatic brushwork or collage assemblage. Many of Glen’s pieces are based on various personal experiences, such as dictating poetry about negative feelings in cut out text or observing the play of light on stained glass windows in a church.
Ranging from large to medium to small scale, Glen’s body of work tends to incorporate text in a way which appears to give the surface texture or form, such as attaching small text giving off the illusion of creases in fabric on a painting of drapery. In essence the work can be described as deconstruction as the fragmented abstractions are based on pieces of repurposed material and then structured to create forms which seem to flow in holistic pieces, sections of composition. Often using black paint, neutral tones, and strategic placement of bright colors, these mixed media paintings indulge in aspects of post-structuralism in regards to vintage source material and producing an end result which appears thoroughly contemporary. Through geometry and asymmetrical strips, the compositions rise toward fusion of color field painting with collage by either flowing through or with the flat forms.
Fragmented Lament (pictured above) depicts geometric magazine clippings smeared with a monochromatic surface of black followed by the center portraying collage text dictating pieces of poetry. The piece draws the viewer towards the focal point to identify text which correlates with their negative feelings. In essence, Fragmented Lament can be described as a confrontational piece using dry transfer lettering messaging over pieces of collage and paint. Glen uses old design techniques to address contemporary notions of disregarding our own negative feelings for the sake of conforming. The darkness surrounding the concept and overlaying the various structures conveys how suppressing negativity can create inner toxicity.
Glen Gauthier dishes up plates of refinement in regard to abstract and conceptual painting. By incorporating found objects and cutting them with great precision to enhance and flow with his paint, Glen explores the role of medium as purpose. These mixed media paintings would not strike the viewer with quite the same impact if achieved with just paint, by incorporating assemblage to create holistic flat compositions, Glen redefines color field painting beyond just paint and surface. His integrative approach adds depth and texture to compositions which reflect both the written word and contemporary design principles.
