Wayne Gonzales

Conner Contemporary Art is excited to present recent paintings by New York-based artist Wayne Gonzales. Since 2001, Gonzales has been known for his politically charged paintings based on photographs and documents culled from the archives of American history and popular culture. The artist's subject matter has included such diverse topics as the Hooter's girls, Lee Harvey Oswald, The White House and self-portraiture. This will be Gonzales's first solo exhibition in Washington, DC.

In this exhibition Gonzales revisits his recent inquiries into the politics of real estate, presenting images of exclusive locations such as tropical resorts, exclusive restaurants and luxury condominiums. Based on found images from the internet, the canvases suggest opulence and leisure but the spaces are devoid of human presence. Utilizing a sharp palette of greens and yellows, the artist bathes these landscapes in a toxic light that functions as a critical lens on contemporary representations of wealth, status and desire.

Wayne Gonzales's work may be found in public and private collections internationally, most notably the Dallas Museum of Art , Dallas, TX and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY. He shows with Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, NY.

Wayne Gonzales