Taymour Grahne Projects is pleased to present a solo by NY-based artist Larissa Bates, opening on May 25 between 6-8pm at the Notting Hill space (52 Lonsdale Road) as part of a joint opening across our 3 spaces.

Kinship and a sense of affinity are probably one of the most important parts of the human experience. How we develop and define these bonds can be a complex and personal phenomenon. Bates sets out to investigate these structures, exploring the intersection of cultural experience and the pull of her own autobiographical narrative.

The first words that comes to mind when viewing Bates’ work is that of a utopia. In this latest body of work, an array of striking colours and intricate patterns collide on the picture plane. These elements work together to build a larger world composed of elaborate interior and quirky outdoor settings. We find flowers blooming, stems twistedly growing, picture frames eclectically hanged or tempting meals ready to be served. Within these maximalist scenes, an array of thoughtful characters are seen to be interacting, living and exploring what it means to be alive. This is a habitat created for, and also by the inhabitants and personalities that Bates develops in the work.

Having grown up in rural Vermont and raised by her father in the 80’s. Bates’ childhood association of parental care was that of the male. It is now many years later that she is able to reflect and work through these ideas in her practice. In the paintings, traditional Catholic and maternal imagery has been adapted to illustrate a male embodying traditional female roles. These instances serve to demonstrate an alternative way of seeing, understanding, and hopes for connecting with each other. They are visuals that propose an alternate and help Bates mediate on her roles now, as a partner and parent of her own.

Interiors play a central part in the paintings, bolstering and complimenting the investigations into identity and culture. The house and the traditional home have often been depicted as a closed, fixed structure in classical painting. With these design elements suggestive of a certain type of family. In this exhibition, large windows reveal lively outdoor scenes that function as an extension of the inside. Architectural walls fold outwards, allowing private and public spheres to meld together. Bates’ vision speaks of partnerships that are realised in a unique way, whether this is between a parent and child, or the domestic and wild. Her investigations into utopian imagery are intertwined with objects, identifiable emblems, and familial devotion, which communicates ideas of the acaridan in a relatable and charismatic forum.

Larissa Bates was born in Burlington in 1981, and grew up between Vermont and Vara Blanca, Costa Rica. She has had solo exhibitions nationally and internationally, including GNYP Gallery (Berlin), Richard Heller Gallery (Los Angeles), Galeria Espacio Minimo (Madrid), NADA Art Fair (Miami), and Mogadishni (Copenhagen). Bates has been represented by Monya Rowe Gallery (New York and St. Augustine) since 2004. Her work has also been included in group exhibitions at the Ulrich Museum, DC Moore Gallery, and the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park.

Courtesy of Monya Rowe Gallery, NY