Exhibition Description

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Transient Identity: A Display of Self Reflection presents the work of painters Jasmin Tupy and Tristan Patterson. This exhibition houses a collection of each artist’s body of work centered around the self portrait. Each of these artists use their ever-changing perceptions of the self as a tool to create a vast array of colorful self portraits. Tupy and Patterson are interested in using painting as a way to assess and represent the way they see themselves, and to express the feelings of impermanence and entropy within the human psyche. As they continually look inward to further understand who they are, varying styles of paint manipulation are the result of their deep introspection. 

Tupy's portraits work as a form of self exploration by depicting the subject in a vulnerable state. More specifically, the collection is a reflection and introspection of herself over the past few years. Being a young adult, impermanence presents itself at every corner. Using a colorful palette, textures, and numerous layers of paint, she portrays the subject’s character beyond its physical state. Through smearing, pushing, scraping, and dripping the paint, she represents the inner chaos and transience of the human experience. Furthermore, Tupy’s subjects in her paintings create eye contact with the audience, breaking the fourth wall. The work in this series offers a bridge for the audience to see a piece of themselves in the self reflective artwork.

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Patterson uses well balanced color composition as a way to distract the viewer from each of his portraits. He often says about his work that he wishes to use painting as a way to deliberately direct the viewer’s attention across the canvas. Initially the viewer is meant to gravitate toward the central figure and then quickly become distracted by something that appears to be eerily misplaced.

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By depicting themselves several times through expressive paint handling and vivid color application, Tupy and Patterson hope to convey the effects of the human condition. By seeing themselves from different perspectives, they have gained a new understanding of who they are, who they want to be, and perhaps, who they are meant to be.

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About the Artists

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Jasmin Tupy is a Santa Barbara based Asian American artist originally from Vacaville, California. She is currently attending the University of California, Santa Barbara, and is set to graduate in June of 2022 with a BA in both Communication and Art. Impermanence, self reflection, identity, and the human experience are themes at the forefront of Tupy’s work. She primarily works with acrylic and oil paints and focuses mainly on self portraiture. Her semi-realistic and introspective work utilizes bold, vibrant colors. Additionally she enjoys the different physical qualities each medium expresses on the canvas. 

 

Tristan Patterson is a painter and draftsman from the San Francisco Bay Area. His interest in the academic style has resulted in the body of work that he presents today. Looking back to many French, Dutch, and Italian masters, Patterson utilizes their means of methodical creation while actively exploring more modern, individualistic ways to express himself without being bound to tradition. Through the use of carefully harmonized color schemes, the figures in Patterson’s work are often meant to be paid divided attention by the viewer. Reflecting the artist’s desire to elevate his status through painting, his work also demonstrates how he may feel timid about being the recipient of numerous gazes.