Jay Stuckey
“It’s Messy Business”
New York, 532 West 24 Street
The show features paintings that reveal the wild world of the artist’s dreams and visions. In this series, Stuckey provides an intimate view into his personal psyche in order to tap into a universal understanding.
Stuckey delves into the volatile depths of his unconscious to let loose the shameless debauchery and acute vulnerability that is often suppressed or denied. We witness chaotic, bewildering, jumbled scenes unfold. Stuckey explores the liminal space between the conscious and unconscious worlds within a familiar yet cartoonish dimension. Space is flattened and stacked to show an overview of humanity at its most primal. At once, the characters driven solely by impulse are throwing fits of rage, crying, urinating or having sex. In this dreamlike realm, actions are instinctual and have no regard for societal standards.
Ship of Fools , 2018 33 x 45 in (83.8 x 114.3 cm)
The artist’s work features a wide range of recurring characters such as the cactus girl, the sad executioner, the homeless man, the cheerleader. Their oddball personalities highlighted through their unexpected interaction with each other. Their coexistence captures the range of notions and identities that comprise the facets of one’s psyche. This visceral nature inherent to Stuckey’s imagery intends to spark a sense of recognition and empathy in the viewer resulting in work that is rich with originality and humor.
