ALEX PODESTA : SINGLES/DOUBLES

FIRST WEDNESDAY OPENING RECEPTION: 08/01, 6 - 9 P.M.
artICULATE aRTIST tALK: sUNDAY, 08/05 AT 4 P.M.

Making his debut at Baton Rouge Gallery with Singles/Doubles, Alex Podesta shares recent works within which he has "culled the rich fantasies, daydreams, misconceptions, and experiences of childhood and re-contextualized them through the filters of adulthood, experience, and education." The works included in the exhibition serve to illustrate the role of fantasy, othering, and conflict in nascent self-awareness in ways that are both engaging and humorous. 

Podesta's life-size sculptures often find their likeness in their creator, becoming self-portraits. Viewers encounter the characters working through metaphysical impossibilities (such as "Who is this 'God' dude and is he a hero?") and possibly surmountable commonplaces (like "What is loneliness?").

The artist explains, "Of course, no traction will ever really be gained with these pursuits. These boys and toys and bunny/men chimera will be forever locked in the Sisyphean toil of misapplication, miscomprehension, and misunderstanding."

Born in North Carolina and raised in Virginia, Podesta has rooted himself in New Orleans since moving there. In the time since, his work has been featured in exhibitions nationally and internationally, as well as in numerous print and online media outlets such as ARTnews, Oxford American, HiFructose, and The Washington Post. He is also a member of the artist run exhibition space, The Front, in New Orleans’ St. Claude Arts District.

This exhibition is presented alongside the latest works from Mary Ann Caffery and Rosemary Goodell. All works from these three artists are on view, free of charge, during normal gallery hours (12 - 6 p.m., Tue - Sun) through August 30, 2018.