Artist Statement
I work in painting from life and photographs, from the private and public realm as source material. Images are usually collaged, worked and evolve as the painting does. I have been exploring how memory connects us as people. When one can relate to another’s memory or thought by looking at an image, it creates a sense of identification. History acts as a focal point from which to look forward. I want the viewer to connect the images represented to one of their own memories. This space is where the private and public may converge. Hopefully the emotions solicited from looking can repair some discord or fissure; so something broken may be repaired. I try to find common threads and weave them into commentary on life’s musings and tragedies. I'm interested in how our visual memory is conditioned by the quality of image technology available from a particular time. It could be the rendering of paint from the renaissance, black and white photography or a color digital photo.
CV
Solo Exhibitions:
Blue Memory, No Foundation, Toronto, Canada, 2017
Portrait, Johnson Public Library, Hackensack, N.J. 2013
Candles, Teaneck General Store, Teaneck, N.J., 2013
Universal Soldiers, Pages Books, Toronto, 2002
Ring Pile, Mercer Union Gallery, Platform space, Toronto, 2001
Pattern, The Propeller Gallery, Toronto, 1998.
Nightmare, IDA Gallery, York University, Toronto, 1996.
Selected Group Exhibitions:
Printmaking at the Edge, The Art Center Dover, NH, 2020
Sandcastle Art Collective, Virtual Exhibition, New York City, A Love Letter, 2020
Site Brooklyn Gallery, Monochrome, Brooklyn NY, 2019
NYA Gallery, Equinox Exhibition, New York, 2019
Blue Boy, Sandcastle Art Collective, Brooklyn, NY 2019
The Other Art Fair, Brooklyn, 2018
Painting the Town, Robert A M Stern Architects Gallery, New York, 2018
Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Monmouth Museum, New Jersey, 2016
The Retrieval of the Beautiful, The Painting Center, New York, NY, 2016
Travel Sketch, Robert A M Stern Architects Gallery, New York, 2016
Drawing From Experience, Robert A M Stern Architect Gallery, New York, NY, 2016
Crescent Street Art Collective, Queens, New York, 2014
Trust in Me, Field Projects Gallery, New York, New York 2013
Virtual Monumental, Bronx River Art Center, Bronx, New York, 2012
Renaissance, Rebirth, Revival, curated by Rachael Faillace, Dr Virginia Butera, Theresa A. Maloney, RSI Bank, Rahway, New Jersey, 2012
OCAD U Alumni. Exhibition, juried by Tobi Bruce, Simon Glass, and Tony Taylor, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, 2012
Bling, curated by Rachael Faillace, Arts Guild New Jersey, Rahway, New Jersey. 2011.
The Art Bazaar for Armory week, Chelsea, New York.,March 2011
Greenpoint Gallery, Salon exhibition, Brooklyn NY, March 2011.
Art for Arzei, Teaneck, New Jersey, Feb. 2011.
A Feast of Fools, curated by Sarvia Jasso, Second-Floor, Brooklyn NY.
Small Works, curated by Russell Calabrese and Julie Bills, 440 Gallery, Brooklyn NY., Nov. 2010
Convergence NYC, New York Armory, New York, 2010.
Amoeba to Zebra, Curated by Ylva Rouse., 440 Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, 2010.
x-initiative art, New York, 2010
Selected Reviews and Press:
http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/203140701_The_Record__Memorial_belongs.html April 16, 2013
Woodbridge Patch, Review for Bling, Janelle Griffith, March 2011.
Bio
David Abecassis completed undergraduate study at the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto, Canada in Sculpture/Installation and photography. He completed studies in art history and studio sculpture in Florence,Italy before receiving his MFA at York University. He works in New York.
David is a painter who explores installation. Past exhibitions include, Mercer Union Gallery in Toronto Canada, Field Projects Gallery in New York, the New York Armory and the Bronx River Art Center and The Painting Center in New York. He has taught art and shown independently and with artist collectives in galleries and artist run spaces in Canada and in New York. His painting continues to revolve around social aspects of identity and memory.
Visionary Art Collective published an interview of me and
my paintings last week. It can be found here:
https://www.visionaryartcollective.com/interviews/david-abecassis
I also had an IGTV live artist interview with the wonderful Victoria Fry!!
It can be found here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJTzYRyhhGY/
I'm in a printmaking exhibition at the Dover Art Center, NH
View show here:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSiO-n5ntavkAL2ljE2VC-iRpdXiuo9SbHEx7PfL6IR_rTSf8HGA6Ph9ocHSbY4_8GUVX-yABUveQPW/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=60000&slide=id.g7730d5704d_2_45