Lari Pittman: Mirror & Metaphor

The Jeonnam Museum of Art presents Lari Pittman: Mirror & Metaphor, the first museum survey in Korea of work by celebrated Los Angeles–based painter Lari Pittman. Featuring nearly 40 paintings and drawings created over the past 14 years, the exhibition underscores the artist’s ongoing exploration in themes related to modern life, including regeneration and renewal in 21st-century society.

Curated by Los Angeles-based curator and writer Rochelle Steiner, the exhibition features artworks from seven key series that are shown together here for the first time: Thought Forms (2012); Caprichos (2015); Nocturnes (2015); Iris Shots Opening and Closing (2020); Diorama (2021); Cities with Egg Monuments: Luminous (2022); and Sparkling City With Egg Monuments (2023). Highlights from the exhibition include two bodies of work created during the global pandemic, which are infused with a spirit of optimism for the future.

Throughout his illustrious four-decade career, Pittman has developed a distinct visual language that has established him as one of the most significant artists of our generation. His densely layered painting style includes a lexicon of signs and symbols that migrate through the artworks: sometimes they assume the central roles, and other times they make supporting appearances. However, his imagery consistently displays a compilation of varied techniques, unique color combinations, and a clear homage to the handmade, craft, and the decorative.