Tag: minimalist painting

Now Showing in ‘Celebration’ at Octavia Art Gallery in New Orleans

February 4th, 2017 | No Comments

grant wiggins in celebration at octavia art gallery new orleans

I will be showing four minimal, hard-edge paintings in Celebration at Octavia Art Gallery in New Orleans, February 4 – 25, 2017.

I am thrilled to announce that I will be showing at Octavia Art Gallery in New Orleans throughout February, in the group exhibition Celebration.

Four of my minimalist, hard-edge studies will be on display in Celebration, which Octavia Art Gallery describes as “an exhibition that reflects the joie de vivre during the Mardi Gras season, concentrating on the celebration of life through art.”

Fellow artists showing in Celebration are Muffin Bernstein, Sara Carter, Marina Dunbar, Shirine Gill, Diana Greenberg, Betsey Gravatt, Ken Nahan, Tom Nussbaum, Max Ryan, and Sam Schonzeitz.

An installation view of Celebration at Octavia Art Gallery in New Orleans.

As artists, not only do we have Celebration in common, but we also have collaborated with Octavia Art Gallery recently to create artworks for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, with locations in New York and New Jersey.

As art curators for these spaces, Octavia Art Gallery has sought to provide “soothing and healing environments for patients and administrators.”

“Our approach is to provide artworks that have an inspirational effect on the well-being of others,” the gallery explains. “Research concludes that art can change an individual’s physiology and have a calming and therapeutic influence. Through a careful selection of artworks and commissioned pieces, the gallery focuses on works that transcend the viewer.”

Last autumn, I produced a series of colorful minimalist paintings for Memorial Sloan Kettering’s corporate offices in New York City. I was encouraged to work in bright and cheerful colorways, in an effort to convey positivity and contribute to an uplifting and inspiring environment.

It has been an absolute pleasure and honor to work with Octavia Art Gallery Director Kristina Larson over the past few months. Repeatedly I have been impressed by Kristina’s professionalism and positive attitude throughout our creative collaborations.

Thanks to Octavia Art Gallery, you’ll also be able to find my work listed on Artsy.net and 1stdibs.com.

Octavia Art Gallery is located at 454 Julia Street, in New Orleans. Learn more at octaviaartgallery.com.

Tags: color combinations, minimalism, minimalist painting, shows
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New Minimal Paintings: The ‘Voyedge’ Series

September 8th, 2015 | 1 Comment »

Three studies for my Voyedge series of minimal paintings.

My most recent artistic voyage has been my Voyedge collection of new minimal paintings. This series is very hard-edge in spirit, and is in many ways a descendant of my ‘Confluent series of paintings, from January of this year.

Thus far the Voyedge series encompasses five small studies and two larger minimal paintings. Down the road, I’d like to continue to explore different colorways with this series — particularly combinations involving fluorescent colors.

New Minimal Paintings: The 'Voyedge' Series by Grant Wiggins

Voyedge 1. 2015. Acrylic on canvas. 40 inches square (102 x 102 cm).

With the Voyedge series, my commitment to hard-edge, minimal painting remains clear. This is a way of making art that has felt like second-nature to me for many years.

Voyedge 2. 2015. Acrylic on canvas. 40 inches square (102 x 102 cm).

If one tendency, or evolutionary theme, emerging in this side of my work, I would say that it is becoming more angular — increasingly characterized by right angles.

There is something about the square, and the straight line in general, that is completely modern to me. The square is the progenitor of the pixel, the essential building block of digital culture. Expressing the same design in straight lines, as opposed to curves, somehow yields a more contemporary expression.

Voyedge 3 (‘Darkhorse’). 2015. Acrylic on canvas. 40 inches square (102 x 102 cm).

I realize that minimal painting is not for everyone. These sparing compositions, as a rule, have clean lines. They are nonobjective in nature; there are no mountains, or flowers, or portraits to relate to. As such, these paintings resist narrative.

Perhaps this is what I find so enjoyable about minimal painting: The making of something new, materializing an otherness not found in the everyday world that surrounds us.

Voyedge studies, from left: Voyedge 2 (Study); acrylic on canvas; 10 inches square (25.4 x 25.4 cm). Voyedge 3 (‘Darkhorse’ Study); acrylic on panel-mounted canvas; 10 inches square (25.4 x 25.4 cm).

The Voyedge collection continues to evolve. I look forward to sharing more pieces with you soon.

Tags: hard-edge painting, minimalism, minimalist painting, reductive art
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Wearable Art: My Collaboration with Jil Sander Debuts

August 11th, 2015 | 8 Comments

Jil Sander Menswear Collaboration with Grant Wiggins for Fall/Winter 2015

Milan fashion house Jil Sander has unveiled its Fall/Winter 2015 menswear collection, which features motifs from my minimalist paintings, such as Ocxiom 2, shown at right.

Eye-catching contrasts, monochromatic motion, angles and stripes: My minimal paintings’ motifs have made the transition from wall art to wearable art. Global fashion house Jil Sander has just unveiled its Fall/Winter 2015 collection for men, a major event that marks my artwork’s debut in designer fashion.

In January, after my trip to Milan Men’s Fashion Week, I announced that graphic inspirations from my minimal paintings would have a bold presence in Jil Sander’s looks for fall. This week the initial results of our creative partnership are arriving in the world’s finest stores, including store.jilsander.com.

My Ocxiom series of paintings takes to the streets in a crewneck wool-and-silk pullover. While the sweater is a vertical composition and my painting is square, the sweater employs a greater number of slanted stripes, matching the painting’s all-over composition. The design continues along the sweater’s sleeves, achieving an eye-catching contrast.

Featuring the motif of my Ocxiom series, this Jil Sander pullover is an 80% wool and 20% silk blend. Details at store.jilsander.com.

I’m inspired to see how my work has been reimagined by the Jil Sander design team, led by creative director Rodolfo Paglialunga. Throughout the transition from painted canvas to artistic attire, my creative partners have stayed true to the spirit of my work.

In another design, my Motus series of hard-edge paintings — motus is Latin for “motion” — brings energy and fluidity to a merino wool pullover, which features intarsia interplay in navy, gold, and black.

Featuring the motif of my Motus series of paintings, top right, this Jil Sander sweater is 100% virgin wool. Details at store.jilsander.com

I have long believed that my paintings could have a “parallel life” in fashion. It is an honor that Jil Sander — such an esteemed and innovative fashion house — is making that imagined life a reality. The next few weeks should prove tremendously exciting!

— Grant Wiggins

Tags: fashion, jil sander, minimalist painting
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Tag: minimalist painting

Now Showing in ‘Celebration’ at Octavia Art Gallery in New Orleans

New Minimal Paintings: The ‘Voyedge’ Series

Wearable Art: My Collaboration with Jil Sander Debuts

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