Opening Reception: March 30, 5-8 p.m.  

Exhibition Dates: April 1 - May 31, 2024

The Bernice Coulter Templeton Gallery is proud to present “A Vivid Representation: Figures of Artless Expressions” a show by Dare Akinwole. The exhibition presents a series of emotive figurative paintings presented through a vibrant color palette, curated composition and soft texture. With the alluring technique of sfumato, Dare draws the viewer into the sphere of the painting before they are met with intensity of the content - curated through a tableau vivant composition. Dare's vibrant colors are a homage to his Yoruba-Nigerian heritage. In the Yoruba culture, vibrant colors are a big part of the visual language as evident in the numerous festivals and ceremonies. His brush strokes are a deliberate juxtaposition to both the flatness of the background - in the paintings - and the harshness of its content; to make it more palatable without needing to soften the content. With his aesthetic and compositional choices, - along with his experiences in the western world (as an African American) Dare creates visually emotive paintings to captivate the viewer’s attention and stir up a lasting state of emotional ponder.