BE THERE
Philip Knoll 2007Presented by Morgan Lehman Gallery April 26, 2007- June 2, 2007Reception: April 26, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pmPhilip Knoll
Recent paintings depict octopi, squid and other sea creatures. At times funny and at others formidable, this may at first be seen as a fascination with these shapely forms. Autobiographical snippets written along the curvature of tentacles or drawn in the background of the picture plane offer a different view into the artist’s psyche, and upon close inspection we realize that these creatures are stand-ins for the artist himself, a type of self-portrait. We read of high school track meets gone awry, the frustrations of a fishing excursion with Knoll’s cigarette-puffing father, series of top-ten lists and endless one-liners. These often serious anecdotes add a sense of tension to the light- hearted, brightly colored hues of Knoll’s paintings. In an essay for Knoll’s exhibition catalogue, Chris Ware writes of the work, “First, it was disarming, then it was hilarious, and sometimes even repulsive. Then it could go anywhere.” No matter the theme or subject, each of Knoll’s paintings presents several layers of meaning, ranging from the absurd to the deeply personal. He is a master storyteller, while always allowing the viewer to embellish his or her own details and morals onto each tale. Philip Knoll was born in Mississippi and received his M.F.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1991. Knoll has shown extensively in the United States; this is his first solo show in New York City. After many years of living in New York, Knoll currently lives and works in Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
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