Tom Bolles & Jeff Metz
Botticelli and Descartes
February 12 - March 27, 2025
Botticelli and Descartes
February 12 - March 27, 2025
Reception: Wednesday, February 12th, 5:30 - 7:30pm
Andrea Schwartz Gallery is pleased to announce a two-person exhibition with Tom Bolles and Jeff Metz
“I took small portions of several of Botticelli’s paintings and created minimal abstractions based upon them.” – Tom Bolles
Tom Bolles departed from his recent fluorescent palette and digital tools in his latest body of work and returned to traditional techniques and materials. This return to tradition came to him after reflecting on one of his favorite artists, Sandro Botticelli, the 15th century Italian Renaissance master. Bolles had particular interest in Botticelli’s paintings “The Annunciation” and “The Nymph” for the artist’s ability to make even the flattest objects appear rich and alive by utilizing an array of colors. With Botticelli’s handling of color and paint as his guide, Bolles applied many precise layers of varying acrylic hues to capture the subtle beauty of Botticelli’s palettes in contemporary abstraction.
“I strive to conjure a familiar emotional presence in unfamiliar physical forms.” – Jeff Metz
Jeff Metz describes the process of his work as a Cartesian meditation, a way of thinking that originated from 17th century philosopher, scientist and mathematician, René Descartes. Cartesianism emphasizes the idea that there are two finite substances, mind and matter. Through his work, Jeff Metz explores the connection of emotion and physicality. Metz searches for the unexpected when sculpting, attempting to transcend stone’s resistance to spontaneous change. Metz’s goal is to create a series of interrelationships throughout a sculpture while maintaining the cohesion of the whole as it unfolds in the round.
“I took small portions of several of Botticelli’s paintings and created minimal abstractions based upon them.” – Tom Bolles
Tom Bolles departed from his recent fluorescent palette and digital tools in his latest body of work and returned to traditional techniques and materials. This return to tradition came to him after reflecting on one of his favorite artists, Sandro Botticelli, the 15th century Italian Renaissance master. Bolles had particular interest in Botticelli’s paintings “The Annunciation” and “The Nymph” for the artist’s ability to make even the flattest objects appear rich and alive by utilizing an array of colors. With Botticelli’s handling of color and paint as his guide, Bolles applied many precise layers of varying acrylic hues to capture the subtle beauty of Botticelli’s palettes in contemporary abstraction.
“I strive to conjure a familiar emotional presence in unfamiliar physical forms.” – Jeff Metz
Jeff Metz describes the process of his work as a Cartesian meditation, a way of thinking that originated from 17th century philosopher, scientist and mathematician, René Descartes. Cartesianism emphasizes the idea that there are two finite substances, mind and matter. Through his work, Jeff Metz explores the connection of emotion and physicality. Metz searches for the unexpected when sculpting, attempting to transcend stone’s resistance to spontaneous change. Metz’s goal is to create a series of interrelationships throughout a sculpture while maintaining the cohesion of the whole as it unfolds in the round.
Tom Bolles | "Primavera" | acrylic on canvas | 74 x 64 inches
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Tom Bolles | "The Annunciation"
| acrylic on canvas | 70 x 54 inches
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Tom Bolles | "Portrait of a Woman at the Window" | acrylic on canvas
| 70 x 54 inches
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Tom Bolles | "The Nymph" | acrylic on canvas | 70 x 54 inches
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Tom Bolles | "Portrait of a Young Man with Red Cap" | acrylic on canvas | 70 x 54 inches
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Tom Bolles | "The Annunciation 2" | acrylic on canvas | 70 x 54 inches
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Tom Bolles | "The Judgement of Paris" | acrylic on canvas | 70 x 54 inches
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Tom Bolles | "Portrait of a Young Man with a Red Cap 1" | acrylic on canvas | 60 x 60 inches
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Tom Bolles | "Madonna del Magnificat" | acrylic on canvas | 42 x 42 inches
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Tom Bolles | "The Judgement of Paris Study" | acrylic on canvas - framed | 14 x 14 inches
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Tom Bolles | "The Nymph Study 1" | acrylic on canvas - framed | 14 x 14 inches
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Tom Bolles | "The Nymph Study 2" | acrylic on canvas - framed | 14 x 14 inches
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Tom Bolles | "Madonna del Libro Study" | acrylic on canvas - framed | 14 x 14 inches
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Tom Bolles | "The Annunciation Study 2" | acrylic on canvas - framed | 14 x 14 inches
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Tom Bolles | "Madonna del magnificat Study" | acrylic on canvas - framed | 14 x 14 inches
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Tom Bolles | "The Annunciation Study 1" | acrylic on canvas - framed | 14 x 14 inches
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Jeff Metz | "Cyclad" | Carrara marble | 9 x 14 x 6.5 inches
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Jeff Metz | "Tullut" | Italian alabaster | 15.5 x 12 x 10 inches
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Jeff Metz | "Interstice" | 8.5 x 14.5 x 11 inches
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