Acrylic on Archival Paper, 40x64”, 2019
Acrylic on Archival Paper, 40 x 64”, 2019
Acrylic on Archival Paper, 40 x 64”, 2019
Acrylic on Canvas, 58 x 69”
Acrylic on Canvas, 65 x 70”, 2020
Acrylic on Canvas, 22 x 28” , 2020
Acrylic on Canvas, 54 x 94”, 2020
Alvin Armstrong’s voice is new to the painting landscape. A purveyor of the world around him and his lived experience, these paintings embody the full spectrum of blackness - the pain, the fight, the excellence. His works vary in size and techniques with canvas works towering close to 6ft by 8ft to framed diptych paintings on paper. The subjects in these paintings are real, culled from Alvin’s exchanges with friends, his community and archival source materials. These snapshots of black life are not coincidental, as seen in his portrayal of Myrtis Dightman, hall of fame bull rider from the 1960’s who was at the top of his craft, to a game of pick up basketball on a local community court. His palette is exuberant and often washed in golden, red and coral filled skies with figures tethered to the moment, allowing for pragmatic individuality as seen above in Gator Belts and Patty Melts.
Alvin paints instinctively in order to emotionally interrogate the narratives that inform the black experience. The exhibition pillar Malcolm Had Feelings Too, was painted in direct response to police brutality, and is a series of 32 paintings completed rapidly over 16 days from June 19 to July 4 of Malcolm X, a seminal leader in the civil rights movement, minister and supporter of black nationalism. On closer inspection, the viewer will see that every painted Malcolm is completely different. Collectively these paintings reject the brutalization of the black body and pay homage to the black men who have been killed by police sanctioned violence since 2015. Individually, they remind us to pay attention to the details that are often overlooked.
Exhibition is on view from September 11-30th, 457 Carroll Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215 from Wednesday -Saturday, 12-5pm by appointment. Please email hello@mediumtingsbk.com
Acrylic on Canvas, 11 x 9.5 ft, 2020
Acrylic on Canvas, 32 paintings (22x 28” each), 2020
Installation view
Installation view