Spectrum

Venvi Art Gallery is pleased to present “Spectrum” a solo exhibition by local artist, Dan Taylor. Returning for his fifth solo show with Venvi, Taylor is bringing a new focus to this body of work by exploring and celebrating humanity’s wide spectrum of diversity through colorful abstract compositions.

The wide array of colors, textures, and compositions that make up the show, is inspired by the artist’s contemplations on the world and our society. This embrace of diversity shows Taylor’s appreciation for all of mankind and a celebration of our uniqueness. The past few years have brought a lot of these differences to the surface and sometimes it's hard to remember our shared humanity; but Taylor hopes that as you peruse the walls filled with his diverse body of work, you are reminded of the beauty that is in everyone.

Dan Taylor’s work varies greatly in the exhibition, but a clear through-line is his attention to color. In the piece titled, “Spectrum” one can see the process and intentionality of color used. As the piece moves from left to right, the color starts off a bright yellow-green and slowly transitions into a rich, cool-toned green, with streaks of mint and sap green emerging in the middle. Paired with the calming gradient in this piece, are the distinct, vertical brush strokes that lead the eye up and down the height of the painting. This careful attention to color as well as the use of distinct textures, serve as connecting elements throughout all the works in his exhibition.

Influenced by curiosity and the need to explore, Taylor creates his paintings with a passion for the art-making process. His work makes it clear that he creates with a focused yet playful attitude that allows him to explore the materiality of the paint through thick brushstrokes, paint splatter, and palette knives. Taylor is further influenced by abstract expressionism and the works of Jackson Pollock and Gerhard Richter.

Originally from Newton, Illinois, Dan Taylor has been a part of the Tallahassee community for many years. Last fall he became the Chair for the Tallahassee Council on Culture and Arts and was presented with the LeMoyne Arts Richard L. Puckett Leadership in the Arts Award. Recently his work, “Powdered Flowers” was selected for the 2021 Creative Tallahassee Exhibition in City Hall and was selected into their permanent collection.