Spring 2021 – Joe Quinn

My work is an outward manifestation of my own internal dialogue and reaction to a tumultuous and information loaded world. Subject matter flows from the political and societal challenges of today and seeks to confront the absurdities of institutionalized and individual dogmas. My choice of subject matter stems from a culturally diverse, urban, working class perspective. Visually, my imagery comes from a sort of muscle memory of engagement within the blue-collar environs of New York City during my coming of age and beyond. This has led to a visual language that utilizes symbolism found within, and representative of this environment. A loaded paint brush, marker, pastel stick, or welder in my hand, automatically seeks to create marks, line, shape and blocks of color tending towards a modernist graffiti, graphic, and neoexpressionist influence. Each of these are ingredients that if taken alone would be truly abstract, but combined form readable imagery that creates a narrative. Though rooted in earlier art historical periods, I feel my work speaks in a contemporary sense to current history and subject matter.

My intention is to present the irrationality of maintaining the social status quo, and to establish that silence is no longer an option and that we all have a role to play in making a more equitable and just world for all of us. If my work can encourage an honest internal dialogue for the viewer, and this in turn promotes a more positive and thoughtful external interaction with society, I would view my work as successful.

8.5′ x 6′ Acrylic on canvas. An homage to 2021 condensed into a single plane highlighting the Covid-19 pandemic, police shootings, food insecurity, financial disparity, and increasing homelessness.