We’re delighted to announce that Rick Berry’s oil paintings are selected for group exhibition,
“Infra:REAL the Art of Imaginative Realism” at Jonathan LeVine Gallery in NY!  

“Cliff Dweller” (left) is from Rick’s series updating myths as metaphors in the metropolis. She is a modern fury, urgent and teetering upon the precipice of her apartment building, a commentary on anxieties of contemporary urban life. Neil Gaiman called it “heartbreakingly beautiful”.  Also to be shown is “Cross Over”, (right) an expressionistic figure in transition. Rick will be at the opening on the 5th and we hope you’ll join us!

Jonathan LeVine Gallery,  August 5-22
Opening reception Wednesday, August 5,  6-9pm
6-8pm 557C West 23rd St  &   7-9pm 529 West 20th St. NY 

As many of  you know, Rick doesn’t use models or photography, nor does he preplan his compositions. Beginning with random patterns on his painting surface, Rick reacts to the surface, generating isolated figures with emotion and movement, often simultaneously.  This results in painting that appears to shift in time. He uses the act of painting to see, provoking an exploration of contemporary or visionary topic. Self taught; having left school at 17, his work aligns most with Boston Expressionist movement, with artists Jackson Pollock, Francis Bacon and illustrator Marshall Arisman as his influence.

This exhibition includes an array of great work from 37 artists
Visit Jonathan LeVine Gallery now through Aug 22 for a feast!
 From the curator, Patrick Wilshire:

“Imaginative realism is the cutting edge of contemporary realism, combining classical technique with postmodern narrative subjects. Focusing on the unreal, the unseen, and the impossible, this genre offers visions of humanity’s mythic past, its unexplored future and, in some cases, its terrifying present. Just as science fiction serves for many as the archetype of postmodern literature with its fascination with the “other” and the unknown, imaginative realism brings this same narrative to the figurative arts.  

infra:REAL is a group exhibition in the most classical sense, presenting the width and breadth of imaginative realism under a single banner. The exhibition features the work of thirty-seven artists, all of whom share a fascination with the narrative of “What if?” and have a strong connection to the mythic taproot that burrows deep into our collective subconscious. Their technical approaches vary, from academic to avant-garde, but all are among the finest realist artists in the world, turning your vision “infra-real” and giving a glimpse above, below, and beyond the reality that both comforts and restricts us all. “—Patrick Wilshire, Curator