Joe Reihsen

Characterized by illusion of an excessive amount of paint, Reihsen’s work is soft and dreamy in creating optics and illusion at play in colors of neon pastels. The viewer wonders, “How was this work made?” Pushing the boundaries of surface, color, and flexibility of paint, Reihsen employs a performative method he describes as "capturing and intensifying the earlier version." What is left is an acidic rainbow that creates lines, shapes, and smudges that appear to be lifted from the canvas. Although pleasing in its color composition and shapes, there is a tension created by challenging the viewer’s perception and knowledge of artistic creation. In 2005, he attended the San Francisco Art Institute where he received the UC Regents Fellowship.

Courtesy of Anat Ebgi.