The Freight + Volume gallery on the Lower East Side is currently presenting an intriguing collection of work by Alec Egan titled Close to Home. For this show, Egan presents several oil paintings characterized by rich brushstrokes with subjects ranging from portraits of animals, to still-lifes of objects such as clothing, food, or furniture.
Most of Egan’s animal paintings are close-ups of furry four-legged mammals and are full of emotion. One of these paintings titled Bison depicts the hearty creature resting on its stomach on a soft surface, resting its head on its arm. He appears strong but peaceful as he gazes at the viewer intently. The works Bear and Dog, are close-ups of the animals faces with the bear behaving fearlessly as he lets out a loud roar, and the dog gazing up at its owner in a pleading way and barking for attention.
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| Bear (2015, oil on canvas) by Alec Egan |
Egan’s still-life paintings reflect nostalgia, as they’re mostly of objects that have been significant in his life at one time, but no longer hold the same meaning in his life today. For instance, an image titled Sandwich illustrates a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white bread, a popular and simple for among many children and hat many children outgrow.
Other works that convey this idea include Book and Stack of Books as they might symbolize a favorite book read during the childhood or adolescent years, and Room depicting a child’s messy bedroom with open, overflowing drawers and unmade beds. Egan also includes still-lifes reflecting transitions into adulthood with more sophisticated items like a neatly folded white shirt with buttons and a collar, or a light pink living room armchair covered with floral patterns above a velvet, emerald-green rug, or a vase of assorted flowers depicted in Elegy of Flowers.
Egan is from Los Angeles and studied at the Otis College of Art and Design where he earned his MFA. His work has been featured in group and solo shows in California, New York, Portland, and Amsterdam.
At Freight+Volume, 97 Allen St., through Jan. 17. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 11 a.m.—6 p.m.
