Rob Browning at Ballard Gallery
In its continuing presentation of emerging regional, national and international artists, R.H. Ballard is proud to present "Almost Home," an exhibition of new paintings by Virginia artist Rob Browning, from May 3 through May 25.
The public is invited to an opening reception for the artist on Saturday, May 3, from 4:30-7:00 p.m. at the gallery, 307 Main Street, in the Town of Washington. Refreshments will be served.
This is Rob Browning’s first show of new work at Ballard’s and has been highly anticipated. It is a truly stunning show and not to be missed.
Browning received his formal art education at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and his artwork is included in many public and private collections. His work has also has been used commercially by clients such as Disney Enterprises, General Electric, ITT, and American Airlines. He has shown nationally in numerous galleries across the United States.
Local collectors have expressed that they are amazed at the precise detail, vivid palette and the contemporary feeling his paintings possess. His work is described as surreal, starkly beautiful, conveying strangeness and other-worldliness.
Ruth Latter, from ART WORLD, The Daily Progress, accurately sums up her perception as follows: "Rob Browning creates stunning realist paintings in a combination of crispness and visual poetry enhanced by dramatic lighting…No weeds, dust, rust, debris or disarray disturb the perfection of his remarkable presentations. No footprints invade his depictions of perpetually perfect lawns. No bugs alight on his images of abundantly flowering plants, and there is no indication of peeling paint or decay on the flawless surfaces of his houses."
These are high-contrast landscapes, often with an underlying tension of maturity and mystery. One is struck by his expertise in illustrating simple details of an everyday life, but with an unexpected angle.
Stephen Margulies, from the Bayly Art Museum at the University of Virginia says, "In Browning’s work, each object in the commonplace world is uniquely powerful in its aloneness…(the artist) loves both fine art and illustration, fuses character and caricature, weirdness and beauty, satire and lovely truth, humor and eerie sobriety."
This exhibition of new work emphasizes a Hopper-esque clarity, and one can see Browning’s influences of such American icons as Edward Hopper and Grant Wood.
Browning himself says of his work: "My Paintings are simple efforts to document scenes or rather, the "mood" of scenes which move me in some way."
R.H. Ballard is open daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The show runs for three weeks only. To schedule a private appointment, please contact Robert Ballard at the gallery, 540-675-1411.