Wednesday, May 17, 2017

New Works by Wayne Leal

Painter Wayne Leal's work always has more going on than first meets the eye. At first glance you're drawn in by Leal's bright colours and familiar characters. The story and your own interpretation of the narrative goes deeper the more time you spend with the work.

Narrative painting is an art form that communicates or illustrates a story. It has deep roots in the discourse of art history, a well known example being Greek vases that date back to 6th century BCE depicting both myths and real events. Leal's work often references real life events while incorporating politics, philosophy, pop culture and a multitude of other references.

Wayne Leal, Eastwood: On the Rocks, 16"x20, Acrylic on Canvas

Both of Leal's recent pieces are from his Eastworld series and the artist is featured as a figure in each of the narratives, but we'll leave it to you find him. His piece, Eastworld: The Hardening Heart of Humanity may be of particular relevance right now with it's pied piper figure, expressing not just the political climate of the United States but of the world.

Wayne Leal, Eastworld: The Hardening Heart of Humanity, 16"x20", Acrylic on Canvas

These pieces are much more vibrant in person and are works you need to sit with to really engage. We have them up at the gallery right now and welcome you to come spend some time with them, and other pieces by Leal that are sure to captivate your imagination. See more of his pieces online HERE.