Justin B. Williams @ Monument 2

Despite what you may have read, Justin B. Williams is not dead.

The lengthy and entertaining accompanying text for his latest exhibition Justin B. Williams: The last paintings (1985-2010) at Monument 2 describes the art-heroic discovery by Nevin Thomlison of the last paintings Justin executed before his equally heroic death saving a child from an out of control vehicle. Whether this was a little prank or sketchy, stretchy reference to a deceased doppelgänger, I don’t know – in any case, it probably scared some old friends and framed the work nicely in romance, innocence, and adolescence.

The show hangs like a collection of smaller projects, with framed clippings and sketches (adorned with increasingly ubiquitous clear polymer mystery goop), floor-displayed gridded micro-paintings, surface experiments and big, mostly straight-material oil paintings. The works are brought together by the artist’s unmistakable composition, his low saturation palette and impulsive, cartoony warble lines. When put all together in the big paintings, the results are intense overgrown gardens of activity. The variety of approaches is a good thing, implying progress and ambition, so I have a feeling these paintings won’t be Williams last.

Justin B. Williams

Justin B. Williams

Justin B. Williams

Justin B. Williams

Justin B. Williams

Justin B. Williams

Justin B. Williams

Justin B. Williams

Justin B. Williams

Justin B. Williams

Its rough that these works were only up for a night, as a few are complex enough to want to get back and chew through their layers and relationships. The central, thematic content Williams is using is exciting to see, both in the dense paintings and the sparse surfacey sandboxes, where it drives the material experiments in a way that shows purpose slightly more than play.

I give it a:

7.8

Justin B. Williams: The last paintings (1985-2010) was a one night exhibition on Saturday, June 12th @ Monument 2, 2007 N Point St.

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