This collection of sixteen paintings, all created in 2020, represents a calendar year where humanity has dealt with vast personal and collective uncertainties while enduring a global pandemic. The Abstract Expressionism on display captures the zeitgeist of the United States, Europe, and elsewhere, as we maneuver through medicinal, political, philosophical, and psychological landscapes. Mr. Holder’s work challenges the viewer to embrace a unique journey and to explore the unknown or unfamiliar visceral concepts through a prism of collective consciousness. Throughout this collection of paintings there are many threads that connect the work. Vibrancy of color, brush strokes, and visible layers of process all offer intrigue, forensic curiosity, and perhaps emotional reprieve during a time where love, hope, and the regaining of a sense of personal and individual normalcy in society is profoundly desired. It is our wish that the viewer engages and reflects in response to the exploration of the open themes in these paintings. With Beyond the Horizon, Mr. Holder offers the welcome surprise of inspiration and courage during a time when thirst for new incarnations, new beginnings, new love, and positive transformations are dire.
Artist statement:
“My artwork is a juxtaposition of the unconscious and conscious mind. Painting in layers allows me to embrace the freedom that is associated with the Abstract Expressionism movement, and I feel the forms and techniques here give the work depth and texture. The intangible aspect of painting is what drives me to create work and my process unfolds naturally when I let my thoughts flow freely. I want my paintings to speak to the viewer long past their initial viewing or introduction. Painting for me has always been a natural selection. I will share an anecdote:An art teacher of mine provided an exercise, and the objective was to paint a flower without using paint. With the teacher’s guidance, we used soil to create a brown color, chlorophyll to create a green hue, and the natural dyes in flower petals to create secondary colors. This experience allowed me to associate art with freedom.”
About the artist:
Augustin Kelvin Holder’s professional development was shaped by taking art classes throughout his undergraduate studies at the University of the Virgin Islands, University of Alaska, and University of Hawaii. He continued to engage in art education and theory at the Art Students League of New York, and with independent studies at MOMA and The Brooklyn Museum. His work was recently featured in the November 2020 edition of MOKO Magazine , in the arts and culture section. He is currently featured in the exhibit The Joy Inside Our Tears at sevenminuseven art collective and gallery on St Thomas.
