“LIKE WOLVES” duo exhibition
Exhibition runs from Jan 11th - Feb 15, 2025Court Tree Collective is proud to present LIKE WOLVES featuring Australian painter Saxon Quinn and Brooklyn based painter John Vitale. Both represent a new breed of abstract painters pushing their DIY instincts into newfound territories. Like flowing rivers they navigate from the energy of their great source. Not planned or charted, but precise in delivery. Wild and unhinged, yet focused and consistent. Passion and dedication encompasses the virtue in each gesture and stroke. We are excited to share this energy with our community.
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SAXON JJ QUINN is a self-taught mixed media artist interested in the rough, the worn and the resilient. Born in country Victoria, Saxon spent his childhood surrounded by creativity. His artist mother tied a basket to the ceiling of her studio where, as a baby, he would swing while she worked. As he grew older, he began sketching, painting and experimenting with clay, at times accidentally defacing her works in the process.
After studying Communication Design and building his career in Melbourne, Saxon moved to New York City, immersing himself in the city and its urban patina.The beauty he found in the aged and weathered elements were cemented as the foundation of his creative work, and painting became the outlet.
Now, from his home in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Saxon primarily uses canvas, graphite and paint, layering hues, symbols and textures to create works that sway from the intentional to the unrestrained, the minimalist to the uninhibited. Each piece bears meaningful motifs alongside elements of mischievous humour, with each mark representing an aspect of his life. These marks are arranged precisely to induce a sensory effect, where a calming constellation can be found in a world of perceived chaos.
JOHN VITALE was born 1979. He is a largely self-taught abstract painter, based in brooklyn, ny, where he lives with his partner and works in his studio in sunset park. He has exhibited in Taiwan, up and down the west coast, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and New York City. His work is in public and private collections in many parts of the world.
Vitale’s paintings are explorations of the human experience that blend organic shapes, lines, plateaus, and rich color palettes into captivating visual narratives. What unfolds from his investigations are isolated experiments, each embodying textured negative space. He is meticulous in his intention; after weeks of unresolved work, a single minor mark- or the erasure of one- a small color change or shift in a shape’s boundary can realize the finality of a painting. Using a combination of acrylic, housepaint, enamels, pencils, canvas scrap, and oil sticks to create his works, Vitale layers materials to create tangible archives of time and experience.
Vitale’s work aims to deconstruct and compartmentalize the chaos that imbues society daily. He views each painting as a learning experience- an exploration of the environment that encompasses him. A meditation on complex human problems, and a search for answers to these conundrums. This process is how he learns to make sense of the incessant inventory of information that one must ingest.
Craigie Harper “In Last Place” exhibition
Exhibition runs from Nov 16th - Dec 28th, 2024
“Kilmarning is a parochial Scottish town that is not too dissimilar to where I live. These paintings are partly autobiographical, partly fictitious.They are often based on real events from my life or the lives of people close to me. I paint a townsfolk who, despite their best efforts, invariably fall short against life.
One subject I often return to is sport. I work through my interest in and aversion to sport by painting Kilmarning United, a bottom-of-the-leagu football team that never wins anything. This antipathy towards spor stems from growing up with a progressive nerve condition that meant I wasn’t very good at it. Discerning peers picked me last for team sports, and finishing every race in last place was inevitable.
The title of this exhibition, In Last Place, reflects my sporting prowess and the spirit of Kilmarning. How I relate to my physical predicament an the humour and pathos I try to convey in painting are closely tied.”
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Yoko Watanabe (Tetotutito) “Tasokare” exhibition
Exhibition runs from Nov 16th - Dec 28th, 2024
“Tasokare”
There is a moment that feels almost enchanted—just before dawn, or just after dusk—when the world is still cloaked in mist and forms haven’t yet sharpened into focus. It’s as if, in the fading light, we step into an entirely new realm. Standing in the twilight, everything feels transformed.
This moment is what the Japanese call “tasokare”, when time seems to stop, and you become suspended in emptiness, gazing inward. In today’s fast-paced world, everything moves at a dizzying speed. Even when I stand my ground, trying not to be swept away, there’s always a sense of unsteadiness beneath my feet, as if I’m out of sync with the rhythm of things. Lately, I’ve found myself gasping for breath. My hope is that, when you’re surrounded by my figurines, you’ll be able to pause, take a breath, and simply “feel”.
The word “tasokare” comes from a Japanese expression meaning, “Who are you?”. It is used when you can’t quite make out someone’s face in the fading light. “Taso” means “who,” and “kare” means “you.” It’s the feeling of standing at the end of a long day, watching the sun dip below the horizon, and drifting into thoughts far removed from the details of everyday life. Your mind begins to wander to distant places, or to long-forgotten memories and futures yet imagined. This state of being—of stepping away from the frenzy of the moment and into a kind of timelessness—is “tasokare”.
My work as a potter is an expression of this concept. The bodies of the clay animals I create are hollow, becoming spaces of emptiness and quiet acceptance. Clay, though enduring, allows me to capture the fleeting “tasokare” moments in everyday life, freezing them into form.
I don’t always create in my studio. I might place a figurine in the corner of my living room or kitchen, adding small touches in the pauses between chores. I carry a piece with me in my backpack, working on it periodically throughout the day. The process of shaping them is woven into the fabric of my daily life. Under morning’s blue light, the dusky twilight, or the warm glow of a lightbulb, these figures shift and change. They reflect not only the passage of time but my own evolving feelings as I mold, carve, glaze, and fire them.
What are these creatures? There’s no question that they’re animals, but what kind? Their identities are blurred and ambiguous. I’ve intentionally made them diverse in form and color—some with long noses, pointed ears, or pronounced chins. They might be black, white, spotted, or something else entirely. These animals are freer than humans, but they all share a common expression. Though they differ outwardly, they are alike in how they lose themselves in contemplation. They resonate with one another, free of distinctions or discrimination. They are also you.
Even in a world that feels chaotic and unbalanced, “tasokare” belongs to all living beings. This quiet, reflective time is something we desperately need now.
Is there a “tasokare” that mirrors you? Or perhaps a “tasokare” looking back at you, silently saying, “You are just like me.” Surely, these figures will listen to you in that same silence.
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“Piratejazz” by Jasper Stieve
Exhibition runs from Nov 2 to Dec 7th, 2024Court Tree Collective and Pollyanna Project is proud to announce to debut solo exhibition for Brooklyn based artist Jasper Stieve. Jasper is a self taught mixed media artist who is heavily influenced by industrious settings and admires the fluent chaos found in city scapes.
Jasper is young, but often works with vintage found objects. For example, he often dismantles 1960's Fisher Price music boxes and changes out the scrolls. Turning them into graffiti lined streets of decay. The pieces are also interactive as viewers can turn the knobs and watch the landscapes go by. Its cultural interpretation shows the decline of the America of yesterday. Yet brings joy to all that see them.
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Jasper Stieve (b. 2000, Lambertville, NJ)
Jasper is a self taught mixed media artist who is heavily influenced by industrious settings and admires the fluent chaos found in city scapes. Primarily working with found objects and in airbrush, his work often encourages interaction, pushing away the common “do not touch” principle. He is a household name in the NYC skateboarding community and recently created his own niche fashion brand. He lives and works in Brooklyn.
Yool Kim “Warm Connection” solo exhibition
Exhibition runs from Sept 14th - Oct 12th, 2024Court Tree Collective is proud to present "Warm Connection" by South Korean artist Yool Kim (김율). Yool Kim has been a longtime collaborator with Court Tree, participating in many of the gallery’s group exhibitions. This exhibition marks her second solo show, following last year’s debut titled “Play Factory.”
“Warm Connection” is composed of seven acrylic paintings that touch upon the emotional and shared interactions between people and living things. Feelings of peace, equality, and inclusion are shown through embracing and interconnected figures at ease in their surroundings. In a world that constantly measures and assigns worth to all beings, Kim hopes to show a type of protection and care that is given freely and unselfishly.
Her figures, rendered in a rich red hue, stand in contrast to their cool-toned backgrounds, emphasizing the intense warmth radiating from her subjects. Intertwining bodies and overlapping faces reveal the diverse personalities people hold; Kim highlights the complexity of human nature, where no individual has just one fixed demeanor. This exhibition stays true to her fundamental values and beliefs, while presenting a new style distinct from her previous show.
“My current feelings are reflected in the picture[s], and I’m expressing everything that cannot be defined in words through paintings. Currently, I feel the most warmth and tranquil in my life and that is reflected in this series. What I want from my audience in this series is to see my paintings and feel calm and warm for a little while. I want to give comfort to those who are lonely and tired.”
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Interview On “Warm Connection” with Yool Kim
Your exhibit is titled “Warm Connection”. Warmth can refer to many things: the sensation of physical heat, affection, kindness, an intensity of emotion, and so forth. In the context of this collection, what does
‘warm’ mean or refer to? How do the titles of your artworks support the overarching theme of “Warm Connection”?
이번 시리즈의 주제인 “웜”의 의미는 육체적, 정신적인 따뜻함뿐만 아니라 사람과 그외 모든 생명체의 정서적 교류를 포함하고 있습니다. 한마디로 따뜻한 온기는 평화와 차별없는 평등, 포용, 용서의 의미가 담겨 있어요. 그들은 서로의 모든 부분들이 닿아 있습니다. 안거나 만지거나 기댐으로써 커넥션과 웜의 의미를 좀더 부각시켰습니다.
"Warmth", the theme of the series, contains not only physical and mental warmth, but also an emotional interaction between people and all other living things. In a word, warmth is meant for peace, equality, inclusion, and forgiveness without discrimination. They are connected to every part of each other. By hugging, touching, or leaning on each other, I highlighted the meaning of connection and warmth.
Geese and plants frequently appear as motifs in your paintings. What symbolism do they carry for you? Additionally, many of your primary figures (subjects) feature faces and bodies within them. Does this
convey a deeper meaning, or is it primarily a stylistic choice?
내가 백조와 흑조, 식물들을 함께 표현한 이유는 다름에 대한 이해와, 공존, 평등의 의미입니다. 세상이 정한 기준에서의 생명체에는 우열감은 존재하지 않고, 서로가 서로를 보다듬고 아껴주고 약자를 케어해줄 수 있는 아름다움을 표현하고 싶었어요. 또한 겹쳐진 얼굴과 몸안에 또 다른 생명체를 그린건 내 안에 많은 자아가 있음을 나부터 인정하고 나라는 존재를 하나의 성향으로 파악할수 없는 복잡함이 가득한 인간임을 표현하고 싶어서 서로 다른 곳을 응시하는 시선으로 이를 표현했습니다. 또한 늘어지는 자세와 서로를 안고있는 모습으로 차분함과 마음의 휴식을 표현했습니다.
The reason why I expressed black and white swans and plants together is to understand the meaning of difference, coexistence, and equality. I wanted to express the beauty of being able to care of the weak and taking care of each other, without a sense of superiority and inferiority in living things that are set by the world. I also wanted to express that I have many egos and personalities within me; I am a human being full of complexity who cannot grasp existence as a single disposition, and so I expressed this through figures looking at different places. I also expressed calmness and peace of mind through the figures stretching and holding each other.
Most of your figures are in bright tones of orange and pink but are set against a background that features blues and greens. There’s this great contrast of tone; further, most of the elements in your paintings are
outlined by this bright red-orange. What was the intentionality behind these color choices?
따뜻함의 강열함을 빨강이라는 컬러로 표현하였고 배경의 빨강과 밖의 세상을 푸른색으로 채색함으로서 나와 다른 존재와의 다름을 표현했습니다. 또한 여러 인물들과의 성향이 존재한다는 의미로 사람들의 컬러를 다르게 채색했어요.
I express the intensity of warmth with the color red, and I also display the difference between myself and other beings by painting the red in the background against the world outside in blue. I also painted people's colors differently, meaning that there are varying personalities within many characters.
“Warm Connection” also presents noticeable differences from the previous work in your last show with us. What inspired this evolution in your style? Has the shift been influenced by recent changes o experiences in your life? Or is it just from a desire to try something fresh and different?
저는 저 자신에 대한 고찰을 늘 하고 있습니다. 현재 내가 느끼는 심정이 그림에 고스란히 투영되고 말로 정의할 수 없는 모든 것을 그림으로 표현하고 있어요. 현재 제 삶에서 가장 크게 느끼고 있는 따뜻함과 평온이 이번 시리즈에 반영되었습니다.
I'm always considering myself. My current feelings are reflected in the picture, and I'm expressing everything that cannot be defined in words through painting. Currently, I feel the most warmth and tranquil in my life, and that is reflected in this series.
For “Play Factory” (your previous solo-exhibition at Court Tree), you conveyed that you wanted your audience to leave with a feeling of “love, playfulness, and protecting the person you love”. Does this sentiment remain the same for this new exhibit? Are there any new feelings that you hope your audience feels?
이번 시리즈에서 제가 관객들에게 바라는 점은 제 그림을 보고 잠시나마 평온과 따뜻함을 느꼈으면 좋겠어요. 그리고 외롭고 지친 사람들에게 위로를 전해주고 싶어요.
What I want from the audience in this series is to see my paintings and feel calm and warm for a little while. And I want to give comfort to those who are lonely and tired.
You have been a frequent collaborator with Court Tree Collective: two solo shows, over three group shows, limited edition prints, branded merchandise, and more. Can you briefly touch on your relationship with the gallery? To you, what is the importance of having a gallery that supports you and your artwork?
코트트리 콜렉티브는 저에게 있어 제 꿈을 실현시켜주고 앞으로 나아가게 해준 굉장히 고마운 존재 입니다. 단지 갤러리와 아티스트의 관계를 벗어나 저의 성향과 성격까지 파악하고 있는 관계입니다 제가 지금까지 그림을 그릴수 있었던건 코트트리의 끈임없는 지지와 응원이었습니다. 또한 저의 그림들을 믿고 쇼에 참여할 기회를 계속 주었어요. 늘 말하지만 코트트리는 지금까지 저에게 최고고, 늘 그럴꺼예요. 이 관계가 계속 이어지길 제가 더 열심히 해야겠죠?. 갤러리스트인 스텝헨과 제 관계는 단순한 비즈니스 관계가 아닙니다, 그는 늘 말합니다, “너를 늘 지켜보고 있어” “넌 락스타야. 최고야”. 그의 이런 말 한마디가 우리를 지금까지 오게했고, 서로가 서로를 응원합니다. 어느 갤러리에서와도 느낄수 없는 유대감으로 인해 좀더 기대에 부응하고 싶고 열심히 창작생활에 매진할수 있었어요. 다시 한번 고마워! My Punch Friend!! Stephen.
For me, Court Tree Collective is a gallery that I a very grateful to; it has made my dream come true and helped me move forward. It's a relationship that’s not just between a gallery and an artist, but also a relationship where I am aware of my tendencies and personalities. What I have been able to paint is from his [Stephen’s] constant support. He has also trusted me with my paintings and given me opportunities to participate in shows. As I always say, Court Tree is the best I've ever been and always will be. I need to work harder to keep this relationship going, right? My relationship with Stephen, a gallerist, isn't just a business relationship. He always tells me, “I’m always keeping my eyes on you” and "You're a rock star. You're the best." His words have brought us so far, and we support each other. Because of this bond that I can’t feel with any other gallery, it propels me to live up to expectations and devote myself to my creative life. Thank you again! My Punch Friend!! Stephen.
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I know you’ve answered this before, but currently, what is the last great piece of media you consumed
(book/show/music/movie)?
저는 제이크 질렌할 배우의 빅팬이며 최근 본 그의 작품중 Enemy 영화를 감상했어요. 도플갱어의 소재를 이용하여 욕망이라는 내면의 적과 싸워야 하는 내용인데 늘 통제의 연속인 우리의 삶을 보여주고 있어 크게 감명받은 영화입니다.
I'm a big fan of Jake Gyllenhaal, and I recently watched one of his movies: Enemy. It's a film about fighting against our inner enemy of desire through the use of doppelgangers; I was greatly impressed by it because it shows our lives as a series of constant controls.
Click Here ︎ to see Yool’s work.
Yool’s Instagram: @yool___kim
Interview and Translation by Tiffany Kang.
@by_inyoung