I’m currently finishing a collection of drawings for Feigned Immortality, my solo exhibition at the Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery in Lindsborg, Kansas. The exhibition opens on November 8th and runs through January 10th 2027 and will be curated in the gallery's Lofgren Room. The collection of artwork consisting of 40 drawings in my quadrangular style, ships from my studio in Bend, Oregon to the gallery by October 15th for framing and hanging.
This exhibition came about in an interesting way, with an invitation from a respected mentor and with a set of unique parameters that connect directly to the themes and motifs of my work. Continue reading to find out more.
EXHIBITION STATEMENT
Feigned Immortality
DECONSTRUCTING THE IMMORTAL VISAGE
Throughout history, cultures and peoples have created visages in their own likeness in the hopes of being remembered, and/or achieving some sort of immortality. I have the Christian beliefs I grew up with and still hold them to an extent. But as I age and my time grows shorter, I can't help but question life after death. I also can't help but think about creating something that lives beyond my current physical existence. Something that helps me achieve some semblance of immortality.
Through this work, not only have I deconstructed historical "immortal" visages and made them in my own image, but through research, I've learned more about what our body leaves as evidence of existence, and why different cultures created immortal objects (ooh, there's another option for my exhibition title :) to preserve their likeness, their beliefs, their leaders, family members, and even their spirits. I'm sharing some of that below, as well as why I made literally all of the choices I made in making this work, and how it brings my theme of "impermanence" to life. But first, my attempt at boiling this all into an exhibition statement. This may evolve, but this is what I need to send off to the gallery today, Friday, October 2nd, 2026.
AN INVITATION FROM A RESPECTED MENTOR
In November 2025, almost exactly one year ago, my art school painting professor, Michael Florian Jilg aka “Mick” reached out to me and asked if I was interested in having a show at the Sandzen Gallery. I grew up in Hays, Kansas, and went to school at Fort Hays State University. Mick thought I might be interested in sharing my work in my home state, near my home town. Lindsborg is about an hour and forty-five minutes from Hays, and the Gallery is a highly respected regional institution and a leading cultural landmark. I won’t get deep into the story of Birger Sandzen (1871–1954), but in short, he was a Swedish-American modernist painter and printmaker often called the "Van Gogh of the Plains" for his bold, expressive landscapes. You can read more about him here.
I was honored with the invitation and couldn’t imagine turning it down. I have great respect for Mick, and since making the move to being a full time artist, my primary exposure has been via Instagram. That’s likely how you’ve come to be reading this post. To have exhibitions in brick and mortar galleries, though not a primary goal of mine, is something I started to pursue a bit in 2026 with being accepted into some juried group exhibitions, and having a solo exhibition here in Bend last April. I show and sell my work primarily online, but gallery exhibitions are a next step to get my work in front of more patrons and potential collectors.
THE UNIQUE PARAMETERS OF THE EXHIBITION
As Mick and I got deeper into discussion, we talked about the logistics of this show. I would not be able to attend in person based on timing and distance, and I definitely wouldn’t be driving a trailer of paintings to the show. So, the reality of shipping cost was something that came up early. It just so happens that the gallery has a “library” of existing frames in-house, all white oak, and in various sizes. At the time, I wasn’t sure what the sizes were, or how many frames, but this became a defining factor in the work that I was about to create.
From over 30 years working in design and advertising, I’m no stranger to working in a “box”. Parameters are your friend when you’re working on a deadline, under a budget, and for a client with very high and specific expectations. Defining the box you’re working within is helpful for everyone involved. It saves time, sets expectations, and gives you a framework for your creative thinking.
The thought of filling these frames provided a spark of an idea, and little did I know that they would end up being so connected to the key theme in my work, impermanence, as well as my current key visual motif… the rectangle.
GO DEEPER INTO THE WORK
If you're interested in diving deeper into the meaning of this work, and finding out more about the subject matter I've pursued and why, you can read all about it here.
SEE THE WORK IN PERSON
If you happen to be nearby, or live in Kansas, please check out this collection of drawings on view at the Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery from November 8th to January 10th 2027 in Lindsborg, Kansas. Opening reception is Sunday afternoon, November 8, from 2 to 4 and will have artist's talks beginning at 2:30. I will be giving my talk remotely on video as I will be at Syracuse University in New York making artwork and speaking at their Visiting Artist Lecture Series.
Remaining work will be made available online in a timed drop the first of February 2027 at 8:00 am PST in the US. Stay tuned!!!