Todd Francis Wright
276 Greenpoint Avenue
Suite #1314
Brooklyn, NY 11222
(917) 346-40404
Bio
Inspired by the graffiti he saw growing up on the streets of New York, Todd paints abstracted snapshots from the urban environment on to canvas. His paintings are a combination of the architecture, the aesthetic of the city's landscape, and the kinetic energy that serve as a visual soundtrack to his daily life. Especially in his larger canvases, you can see the multi-layered, serendipitous formation of the tags and lines on the face of a building that rises above the city. It is this juxtaposition of man-made orderly structures, seemingly unintelligible graffiti, and the expanse of the sky that give his paintings the depth we get to experience as a viewer. Todd is specifically interested in color theory and his practice is heavily informed by his second profession as a floral designer. “I have learned more about the true nature of colors and composition arranging flowers than I have in art school,” he says of the learning curve. Everyday objects he collects from the street already find their way into his canvases as random surprises, such as a page from a dictionary, or a wrapping paper with a pattern he likes. His most recent work explores the more textural elements of painting, while continuing to develop a playful incorporation of alternate mediums.
Todd is currently living and making art in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Statement
The current body of work I have produced deals with rediscovery. Most of the canvases are paintings done over older paintings, a process that generates a rich texture and sense of density. Incorporating what I like to refer to as "a delicate taste for the mixed media",and the use of recurring symbols and imagery, the element of a storyline is threaded throughout the work. Beneath lies the struggle to move beyond the past, and the difficulty of accepting its place in the present. On the surface is the sentiment of youthful wonder, and a palette reflecting my experiences with all of the children in my life. I aspire to approach the work through their eyes, from their perspective. Innocent, reckless, and playful. As a derivation from original consciousness, which is plainly stated as "the child", these paintings are a way back to the beginning.