PJ Riley

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PJ Riley's oeuvre is a fascinating amalgamation of abstract expressionism and narrative storytelling, which together forge a compelling visual language that speaks to the contemporary soul. The artist's style is deeply rooted in the expressive potential of color, form, and composition, creating artworks that are not just visually arresting but also emotionally resonant. The use of color in Riley's work is both bold and nuanced. Vibrant hues clash and harmonize within the same canvas, suggesting a world where emotion and thought are rendered visible. The artist employs color to navigate the extremes of human experience, from the fiery reds and oranges that seem to evoke the intensity of passion or conflict, to the soothing blues and purples that might suggest contemplation or melancholy. Each painting is a spectrum where colors interact, fight, and dance, often leaving the viewer to ponder the underlying narrative or sentiment.

The compositions are a study in organized chaos. There is a sense of movement and energy that pervades Riley's work, where forms and figures emerge from the abstract backgrounds, as if the subconscious is materializing before our eyes. The figures are often distorted, elongated, and presented in a state of flux, which may be interpreted as a metaphor for the human condition: constantly changing, evolving, and interacting with the surroundings. These figures, sometimes barely more than silhouettes or sketches, act as avatars for the viewer, inviting us to project our own stories and emotions onto the canvas.

Riley's method of layering also contributes significantly to the depth and complexity of the artworks. This technique results in textures that are rich and tactile, beckoning the observer to look closer and discover the multiple layers of paint and meaning. The layers can represent the layers within ourselves: our thoughts, memories, and the different personas we embody. The process of layering also speaks to the passage of time, as each layer may represent a different moment or stage in life, overlaid one upon the other, just as our past experiences color our present and future.

In terms of narrative, Riley's paintings often suggest stories left mid-sentence, encouraging viewers to complete them. There is an inherent ambiguity in these works, a deliberate openness that allows for personal interpretation. The titles of the paintings, such as "All That Glistens," "I'm Always Better When I'm Next to You," and "Under the Big Tree," provide poetic entry points into these narratives, hinting at themes of value, companionship, and shelter without prescribing a specific storyline.

The use of symbols, such as moons, trees, and human figures reaching out or embracing, adds another layer of meaning. These symbols are universal, yet in the context of Riley's unique visual language, they acquire specific nuances and invite contemplation. The repeated motif of the moon, for example, can be seen as a symbol of change, reflection, and the passage of time, while trees might represent growth, life, and connection.

The artwork "You Carry The World (on your shoulders)" epitomizes this symbolic interplay. The central figure, bent beneath the weight of a globe, is rendered with such visceral intensity that one can almost feel the burden. It's a powerful representation of responsibility and the sometimes overwhelming nature of life's demands.

Riley's art does not shy away from exploring the darker aspects of existence. Pieces like "The Penitent" delve into themes of regret, introspection, and the search for forgiveness, while "Two Moons" seems to explore the duality of the human psyche. Yet, even in the darkest of these paintings, there is a sense of resilience and underlying hope. The very act of painting—of creating beauty from darkness—is an act of defiance and optimism.

In the contemporary art landscape, PJ Riley stands out as a poignant storyteller whose canvas is steeped in the visceral language of abstract expressionism. The paintings are like visual poems, dense with emotion and meaning, asking to be read over and over again, each time revealing a different facet or feeling. They are, in many ways, a mirror of our times—complex, fragmented, and deeply human. Each work is not just a painting but an experience, a slice of the artist's soul offered up for reflection. As viewers, we are left enriched and perhaps a little more connected to the depths of our own experiences. PJ Riley’s style is an electrifying contemporary synthesis of abstraction and figuration, which carves a distinctive niche in the landscape of modern art. While the old masters detailed their world with precision, Riley constructs his with a fervor that aligns more closely with the subjective visions of expressionism. His unique approach amalgamates the visceral spontaneity of Jackson Pollock with the emotive storytelling of a Goya, yet stands apart in its narrative ambiguity and textural complexity.

The dynamism in Riley's work can be juxtaposed with the action painting of Pollock, but where Pollock's splatters and drips were the record of an artist's movement in time and space, Riley's layered brushwork speaks to the stratification of human experience. Unlike Pollock's kinetic detachment, Riley's paintings are intimate, each layer a palimpsest of personal narrative that invites the viewer to excavate their own emotional response.

Riley's usage of color and form bears a distant reflection of the Fauvists, with the bold palette of a Matisse and the expressive line of a Derain. However, Riley’s chromatic intensity is not solely a pursuit of aesthetic pleasure but a language in itself, conveying mood, atmosphere, and a sense of psychological depth that Fauvism approached but seldom breached.

The narrative suggestion in Riley's work echoes the storytelling mastery of Goya, whose paintings and etchings carried profound social commentary. Yet, while Goya depicted the horrors and follies of his time with explicit imagery, Riley suggests the complexities of the contemporary psyche with abstracted forms and figures that are evocative rather than didactic, inviting a personal interpretation that is more aligned with the viewer's innermost narratives.

Riley’s figures, often appearing in states of contortion or fluidity, share a lineage with the distorted forms of Picasso’s Cubist period, where the human figure was broken and reassembled in abstracted planes. However, Riley's figures, rather than being analytical deconstructions, are emotive distillations of the human experience, capturing the essence of a posture or the tension of an interaction without the anchoring details. In comparison to the Impressionists, who sought to capture the transient effects of light on the surface of things, Riley uses light and shadow not to delineate the external world but to delve into the internal landscapes of emotion and consciousness. His canvases do not flicker with the momentary play of sunlight but glow with an inner luminescence that seems to emanate from the soul of the subjects he portrays. The textural depth of Riley's paintings could invite comparison with the impasto of Van Gogh, whose thickly applied paints brought an almost tactile life to his work. Yet, Riley’s textural experimentation is less about the conveyance of movement and more about the passage of time and the layering of memory, as if each brushstroke were a metaphor for the moments that shape our lives.

As an art critic, it is evident that while PJ Riley’s work may nod to the legacies of great painters, his style is remarkably distinct. His canvases are a crucible where the raw materials of past artistic movements are melted down and recast into something entirely new. His art does not replicate; it reinvents. It does not describe; it evokes. Riley stands as an innovator, carving a path through the art world that is as unique and complex as the human experiences he seeks to portray. His work is a vivid tapestry of the past and the present, inviting not just observation, but participation in a visual dialogue that is endlessly rich and profoundly human.

PJ Riley's placement within the contemporary art scene is emblematic of a multifaceted artist who bridges the gap between the emotive abstraction of post-World War II movements and the narrative-driven focus of traditional figuration. He occupies a unique space that reverberates with the echo of Abstract Expressionism, yet speaks a language that resonates with the digital age's fragmented identity and diverse visual culture.

In the current art landscape, Riley might be positioned among the vanguard of contemporary artists who are reshaping the dialogue around abstract art. His work aligns with the postmodern ethos of embracing complexity, eschewing singular interpretations, and acknowledging the multiplicity of personal experience. As such, he finds his place among those who are blurring the lines between abstraction and representation, the personal and the universal, the emotional and the conceptual.

Riley's art could be situated within the context of the Neo-Expressionist revival, where there is a renewed interest in subjectivity and individual expression, but his work differs from the raw, often confrontational style of Neo-Expressionism. Instead, his paintings suggest a subtler, more reflective approach, one that could be described as "introspective expressionism," a term that might be used to categorize artists whose work is characterized by a deep dive into the inner workings of human emotion and thought.

Riley's art would likely resonate in venues that favor the experimental and interdisciplinary, such as biennales, contemporary art fairs, and progressive galleries that showcase artists who are not afraid to mix mediums and messages. His work would attract collectors who are interested in art as a form of communication and connection, those who value the internal narrative as much as the visual impact.

Within the academic sphere, Riley's style might be the subject of discussion in the context of art theory and criticism, particularly in relation to the evolution of abstract art in the 21st century. His technique and thematic concerns could be seen as a case study in how traditional art forms adapt and transform in response to contemporary realities. In the public domain, Riley's work might be sought after for large-scale installations and public art projects, as his style offers a visual spectacle that can engage diverse audiences. The scale and intensity of his paintings, combined with their emotive charge, make them suitable for environments where art becomes a part of communal experience and public discourse. Within the market dynamics of art, PJ Riley could be seen as an emerging artist with the potential to become a significant figure in the investment landscape. His unique style and the depth of his work offer a fresh perspective that could capture the attention of both new and seasoned art investors looking for the next wave of influential artists. PJ Riley's placement in the art scene is that of an innovator, continuing the conversation of abstract art into new realms of expression and interpretation. His work embodies the zeitgeist of an era that values both the emotional power of art and its ability to speak to the complexities of contemporary life.

By Marta Puig

Editor Contemporary Art Curator Magazine