Sean Taylor 'Aquation' Oil on Canvas Panel, 20" x 30"
To View All Sean Taylor Paintings in Exhibition: CLICK HERE
SOMA NewArt Gallery is proud to present: “The Art of Relaxation” an exhibition of oil paintings by SEAN TAYLOR Opening Artist Reception: Friday, July 31st, 6:00PM –9:00PM. Exhibition runs July 31, to September 6, 2009. Gallery Hours: Daily 10AM – 10PM.
This is SOMA’s second solo exhibition featuring local artist Sean Taylor. In this dramatic new body of work, Taylor focuses on his life and experiences in Cape May: from a naïve child’s eye on vacation in the 1970’s, to an adult artist’s love for the resort’s grand natural and architectural vistas. The work is presented in Taylor’s rich and textured trademark style; application of oil paint on wood panels, using muted tones over layers of color. The show varies from small studies and intimate portraits to large open landscapes and figure paintings. The juxtaposed images referencing family and landscape are often annotated with the month and year associated with the image, as if to chronicle the painting in a timeline of memory. With his characteristic irony, Taylor says, “I was never very good at relaxing until I wound up here, and Cape May taught me how to relax. I first came with my family in 1970 and we stayed at the Point. I recently found a stack of photos from that vacation and made a series of paintings based on those. When I moved to Cape may in ‘97 I was going through a rough patch in life. I had a lot of anxiety-- everything was sort of difficult and I had to learn to slow down and focus on something. That’s when I started painting. So there’s some inspiration in this group of paintings from that period as well. I’m trying to paint the idea of too much information creeping in to upset the sense of peace--and how we can eventually deal with it and move on. That’s what the erosion charts refer to-- the unstoppable amount of stimuli that comes in and has to be processed and dealt with in order to get back to a peaceful existence. I also recently found a term paper I did on erosion on the Delaware Bay area when I was in Junior High. I guess you could say I’ve been interested in erosion for some time now, which I admit is weird. “I also have a group of landscape studies and large paintings of some of my favorite spots: the Cove, Poverty Beach, the Mini golf course and a few more. So there are several things going on in this body of work.” “The Art of Relaxation” opens Friday, July 31 with a reception for the artist from 6 to 9 pm with light food and drink. SOMA’s opening night party is open to the public and is meant not only to introduce art lovers to Sean Taylor’s new work, but also to provide an arena to promote the arts in general.
SEAN TAYLOR works mainly in oils on constructed panel, drawing inspiration from personal experience and memories, and from the present environment of American life. Current themes in his work include desire and sexual tension, hope and futility, nostalgia and childhood. His consistent sales at galleries and juried art fairs across the region have placed his work in many private collections in the U.S. and overseas.
SOLO EXHIBITS 2009 "The Art of Relaxation" SOMA NewArt Gallery, Cape May, NJ "Sean Taylor Owes Me Money" Ghostprint Gallery, Richmond, VA 2008 "Hot Fun" SOMA NewArt Gallery, Cape May, NJ. 2008 "Pre-occupation" Artists' House Gallery, Philadelphia, PA. 2007 "Polyptych" Rice Gallery, McDaniel College, Westminster, MD. 2007 "Greetings from South Jersey" Mad Batter, Cape May, NJ. 2005 Ashley Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 2005 "Humpty" Mad Batter, Cape May, NJ. 2004 "Beachscapes" 931 Beach, Cape May, NJ. 2004 "Recent Work" 22 Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 2004 "On Vacation" and "Back to School" Mad Batter, Cape May, NJ. 2003 "Meditative Mood" Mad Batter, Cape May, NJ. 2002 "Back and Forth" Big Jar Books, Philadelphia, PA. 2001 "Well-Lighted Places" Big Jar Books, Philadelphia, PA.
GROUP EXHIBITS 2009 Red Dot Fair, Miami, Flordia 2008 Art Now Fair, Miami, Flordia 2007 Emerging Artist Show, Artists' House Gallery, Philadelphia. PA 2007 Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Association Juried Spring Show, Philadelphia, PA 2007 Stockley Gardens Juried Art Show, Ghent District, Norfolk, VA 2006 Park Avenue Juried Art Show, Rochester, NY 2006 Ocean Grove Juried Art Show, Ocean Grove, NJ 2006 Allentown Juried Art Show, Buffalo, NY 2006 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia. PA 2006 Stockley Gardens. Norfolk, VA 2006 Contemporary Art Center of Virginia Juried Art Show, Virginia Beach, VA 2006 Annual Student Exhibition, PAFA. Philadelphia, PA 2005 Annual Student Exhibition, PAFA. Philadelphia, PA 2005 Columbus Avenue Juried Art Show, New York, NY 2005 Arts on the Green Juried Art Show, Fairfield, CT 2005 Ocean City Art League Annual Juried Art Show, Ocean City, NJ. 2003 The Art League Gallery, Cape May, NJ. 2002 Cape May County Art League Open Juried Show, Cape May, NJ. 2001 Fleischer Arts Memorial Juried Spring Show, Philadelphia, PA.
Awards and Grants 2006 Lance Roy Lauffer Painting Prize, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), Philadelphia, PA 2006 Sundollar Award, Contemporary Art Center of Virginia Juried Art Show. 2005 Richard C. Von Hess Full Year Tuition and European Travel Scholarship,PAFA, Philadelphia, PA. 2005 Jimmy C. Leuders Painting Prize, PAFA, Philadelphia, PA 2005 Don Sabbath Award, PAFA, Philadelphia, PA 2005 Susan Carlen Brown Memorial Prize, PAFA, Philadelphia, PA 2005 Michael G. Capuzzi, Jr. Memorial Endowment, PAFA, Philadelphia, PA 2005 Charles Toppan Prize for Drawing-Noncurriculum, Special Notice, PAFA 2005 Fellowship Juried Prize, Special Notice. PAFA, Philadelphia, PA. 2005 Mario Dal Fabrio Award for Excellence in Art (first prize) Fairfield, CT 2005 Purchase Prize, Ocean City Art League Annual Juried Art Show. OC, NJ 2005 First Place, Cape May Art Show, Cape May, NJ 2004 Charles Crawley Award for Landscape, Special Notice, PAFA Philadelphia, PA. 2003 Charles Crawley Award for Woodcut, Special Notice, PAFA, Philadelphia, PA. 2002 Third Place, Cape May County Art League Open Juried Show, Cape May, NJ. 2001 Honorable Mention, Fleischer Arts Memorial Juried Spring Show, Philadelphia, PA. Lectures "Polyptych: meaning, influence and creative process" October 30, 2007, McDaniel College,Westminster, MD (visiting artist).
Education 2002-2006 Studio Certificate Program-Painting, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA. 1997-2001 Fleischer Arts Memorial, Philadelphia, PA. 1992-1994 MA Teaching, BA History, Virginia Commonwealth University 1982-1986 BA Sociology, University of Richmond, VA
SEAN TAYLOR - Biography Sean Taylor was born in London in 1964. He grew up in the small college town of Swarthmore, Pa. then moved to Argentina where he finished secondary school. He cites the time he spent in Buenos Aires as life changing, and a crucial moment in the development of his world-view. Here he saw a failing military regime, strictly defined class structures, and ridiculous bureaucracy juxtaposed with a very proud, outspoken and fun-loving people. The irony was not lost on him. Back in the States, Taylor studied Sociology, History and Teaching, earning degrees in each subject. In spite of these successes he experienced a lack of purpose and a desire for something more to life. He moved to Philadelphia and attended night classes at a local art foundation, where he was drawn to figurative painting. He entered the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, studying with painters Bruce Samuelson, Scott Noel and Sydney Goodman. He won several awards for painting at the Academy, including the coveted Leuders and Lauffer Awards, as well as one of the highest awards given by the school, the Richard C. Von Hess Tuition/Travel Scholarship. Taylor lives on the Delaware Bay in Villas, NJ with his wife, artist Perianne Richmond-Taylor. Their studio is located in the wetlands Village of Grassy Sound, overlooking Hereford Inlet.
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