Acadiana Center for the Arts hosts intriguing mixed-media exhibition: CuriousArt
CuriousArt: The Fascinating Assemblage of George Graham
August 10, 2024 – September 21, 2024
Acadiana Center for the Arts – ArtHouse, Circle Gallery, & Mallia Galleria
LAFAYETTE, LA – August 5, 2024 – Acadiana Center for the Arts announces the opening of the CuriousArt: The Fascinating Assemblage of George Graham exhibition, on view from August 10 through September 21, 2024.
The art world is set to be captivated by the unique creations of Lafayette-based artist George Graham, an award-winning adman, writer, photographer, and author who has delved into the world of visual art through his intriguing assemblage style. Graham’s art defies easy categorization, transcending the boundaries of traditional mixed media and inviting viewers to embark on a journey through quirky ideas and off-the-wall perspectives.
Each three-dimensional piece is a self-contained story that brings the viewer into a distinctive, sometimes peculiar, world in which the interpretation is up to the individual. His artistry brings new life to discarded materials, recycled objects, and flea-market treasures, resulting in intricately detailed works that challenge conventional creative norms. Graham’s unique approach is firmly rooted in the assemblage genre, an art form dating back to the early twentieth century.
Notably, Graham’s canvas is unique, too; he repurposes old picture frames and sturdy substrates like soda crates and broken wall clocks to accommodate the weight and complexity of his art. “I hunt for unusual junk in flea markets, antique shops, and thrift stores—objects that infuse drama into each piece. Many of these finds are broken and discarded, but I believe in transforming them into something valuable, making them part of the story, and giving them renewed purpose and dignity,” Graham shared.
His works feature a rich tapestry of acrylic paint, metallic rubs, collage, fabric, and found objects, all thoughtfully assembled using a combination of brushes and an array of adhesives. This intricate layering process involves unconventional materials that add depth and intrigue to each composition. From steampunk to pop culture, Graham’s creative spectrum traverses through legendary history,
fantasy, mythology, and pop-culture perspectives.
Central to his body of work are his guitar-themed pieces, comprising a tribute series dedicated to iconic musicians. Each reclaimed guitar, rescued from pawn shops and flea-market bins, undergoes a meticulous transformation, emerging as a painted and embellished work of art. The series pays homage to music legends such as Stevie Ray Vaughn, Prince, David Crosby, Kurt Cobain, Johnny Cash, and Jimi Hendrix, capturing their essence in visually captivating compositions.
Graham is delighted when viewers describe his art as “weird,” “bizarre,” “wacky,” or “far-out,” reflecting its unorthodox and thought-provoking nature. CuriousArt promises an immersive experience into George Graham’s curiously offbeat world.
The exhibition debuts during Second Saturday ArtWalk on Saturday, August 10, 2024. The exhibit spans three galleries, ArtHouse, Circle Gallery, and Mallia Galleria on the second floor of Acadiana Center for the Arts in downtown Lafayette and remains on view through September 21, 2024.
Exhibition page: CuriousArt Exhibition at AcA
Images: CuriousArt Exhibition at AcA
ABOUT GEORGE GRAHAM:
George has lived in South Louisiana all of his life. He is curious by nature and a storyteller by heart. Through his long career in advertising to his writing, photography, painting, and publishing, he has chosen to express himself through words and images. His award-winning ad agency, Graham Group, provides the foundation for him to explore artistic paths that he is passionate about.
In 2013, he launched the award-winning blog Acadiana Table: George Graham’s Stories of Louisiana Cooking, which was named a finalist for Best Food Blog: Regional Cuisine in Saveur magazine’s 2014 Best Food Blog Awards and also for Best Food Blog in the 2015 IACP Digital Media Awards. That ledto the publishing of two best-selling cookbooks, his 320-page collection of stories and recipes Acadiana Table: Cajun and Creole Home Cooking from the Heart of Louisiana, published by Harvard Common Press, and the follow-up in 2020 with Fresh From Louisiana: The Soul of Cajun and Creole Home Cooking. His food photography has been featured regionally and nationally in magazines and presented at a major exhibit, Feast for the Eyes, in 2018 at the Louisiana Arts and Science Museum in Baton Rouge, LA.
In 2016, George was named a finalist in the Southern Writers Magazine BEST SHORT STORIES for his fictional work, The Blue Ribbon Pies of Magnolia County. In 2021, George was named a finalist in the annual Big Apple Film Festival screenplay competition in New York City. His script for Gardenias In The Darkness, adapted from his novel with the same title, is a fictional drama set in a small town in Georgia during the 1960s. The script beat out entries from across the country to make the final round of judging.
Several years ago, George’s creative passions deviated from traditional paint on canvas to assemblage, a complex, mixed-media style combining paint and sculpture. George calls his art “CuriousArt,” which reflects his sense of exploring new perspectives of what art can be.
