All together
By: Thayer Bray
My work concerns itself with notions and themes of physical, emotional and psychological closeness. These ideas are addressed in my work through the depiction of a single heterosexual couple. Their interactions and perceptions seeming to distort them physically, reflecting their psychological and emotional states. These shifts are visually manifested in the anatomical distortion of the two figures, and the clear, contrasting dimorphism between the two. In each drawing, the representation if the figures slides from naturalistic illusionism to flat expressionism, considering ideas of perception, self awareness, and body dismorphia: how one views the other and the self - made visually manifest. Ideas of “real” people, sliding into idealized, semiotic notions of “Man” or “Woman,” My work is heavily influenced by, and takes freely and openly form, the history of art, prints, comics, movies, and cartoons. my 2-D and 3-D work, all figurative, and all ink on paper, investigates ideas of physical closeness, emotional intimacy, body dysmorphia, narcissism, frailty, snuggles, and the social and interpersonal negotiations which occur within heterosexual relationships.
Thayer Nicholas Granstrom Bray Is a draw-er, printmaker, bookbinder, and sculptor based in Kansas City. He earned a BFA in printmaking and minor in Art History from the University of Kansas in 2009. Thayer's work is heavily influenced by, and takes freely and openly form, the history of art, prints, comics, movies, and cartoons. His 2-D and 3-D work, all figurative, and all ink on paper, investigates ideas of physical closeness, emotional intimacy, body dysmorphia, narcissism, frailty, snuggles, and the social and interpersonal negotiations which occur within heterosexual relationships. He is currently the shop assistant at the Lawrence Lithography Workshop, Kansas City, MO, and head binder at Red Shorts Bindery.
Opening Reception on Friday, June 2nd, from 6:00-10:00pm