Brian Batt / Mulberry

This new series of paintings is primarily rooted in the artist's decade-long residence in New York City. The faces and personalities of the individuals observed throughout the Lower East Side and Brooklyn—whether encountered on subways, streets, museums, cafes, parks, coffee shops, concerts, or galleries—have profoundly shaped the artistic vision. Concurrently, a collection of magazines encompassing art, fashion, and photography was amassed over this period, serving as a repository of reference material. It's noteworthy that the titles of the portraits are directly drawn from the street names of the Lower East Side.

As of earlier this year, with a new location in Miami, the artist embarked on an endeavor to declutter, resulting in the initiation of an image archival process. Among the trove of magazines, those images deemed most dynamic were systematically preserved. This curated collection became the foundation for the subsequent creative process, which involved the deliberate tearing, mixing, and matching of these images. The act of tearing the paper introduced an element of unpredictability and exhilaration to the artistic journey.

The exploration delved into a diverse array of juxtapositions, interweaving expressions from various spectra: old and young, male and female, contemporary and antique, rich and poor, rough and refined, and more. This exploration culminated in the conceptualization of 'intersecting portraits,' a thematic core that celebrates the multifaceted nature of individuality and diversity. The resulting compositions seamlessly merge the distinct beauty and imperfections characteristic of myriad generations and cultures, forming a profound tapestry of human existence.