Selecting artists to feature in New American Paintings is a privilege and a challenge, in that so many talented artists submit work. When considering the submissions, I looked broadly at the definition of painting and focused equally on technique and content. Knowing nothing about the artists or their practices, I selected works that made an impression on my intellect, emotion, or curiosity, hooking and luring me into new spaces of thought.
As I began making selections from the hundreds of images, a narrative unfolded. It is neither linear nor limited is a self-portrait of the artist wearing a baseball cap with the Mexican flag. Set against a bright yellow background, the bust up to the artist’s nose is replaced by striped patterns that are reminiscent of both Mexican blankets and data barcodes, suggesting conflict within oneself.
