JOHN VITALE // What Has Gone Wrong Becomes an Opening

On view January 20–March 4, 2023
Opening reception Saturday, January 21 (2–4 p.m.)

Nationale is pleased to welcome back painter John Vitale for his first solo exhibition with the gallery. What Has Gone Wrong Becomes an Opening documents Vitale’s ongoing search for new beginnings and moments of exploration. In these abstract works viewers witness a turn towards a canvas at capacity, demonstrating the fullness of Vitale’s range. A desire to paint more intuitively, and to shed established comforts, reveals a frenetic tone previously only hinted at in the artist's work. The paintings on display are reactions to his immediate sensory stimuli - surroundings, moods, music. The subsequent responses present a spectrum of visual impulses and are what Vitale has aptly dubbed “the artform of life.” The works embrace the unpredictable ability to take what has fallen apart, what still feels fresh, and redirect it towards a new channel. 

In Wave of Mutilation, large, bold swaths of color flood the picture plane. The vibrant reds and blues and greens are not unfamiliar to Vitale, yet presenting them in such a tight formation, with little of the painter’s signature use of negative space, imbues the painting with a new sense of urgency. Displayed in tandem with more subdued works such as Apparition No. 4, we can see the extent to which the artist is in a process to push beyond his established practice and cultivate new openings. The subtle whites and creams in Apparition create an ethereal aura around the singular pop of cobalt blue, which acts as a focal point. This calming energy feels evocative of a deep and conscious introspection. In turn, the forceful line work and intense pigment in other works are derived from the artist’s attempt at channeling raw, unprocessed emotions of the moment. Both are central to Vitale’s creative method. This dichotomy of visceral forces creates a powerful conversation in the space of the gallery. From initial thought to final execution, this evolution magnifies Vitale’s careful consideration of each element at play in the practice of building a painting. 

John Vitale (born 1979, Illinois) is a self taught multidisciplinary artist. His work was previously shown in Portland, OR, at Nationale, Chefas Projects, Association, and Never Lab, and in Wenatchee, WA, at Collapse Contemporary. Vitale is a creative director, graphic designer, as well as the founder and creative mind behind The Killing Floor skateboard brand.

PRESS & MORE
Things to Do in Portland This Week, Matthew Trueherz, Portland Monthly, February 2, 2023
Recommended Exhibition, EverOut/Portland, January/February 2023
Indiscreet Opening Sun Flow, Portland OR US Now, January 21, 2023

IMAGES

The paintings from this exhibition were all acquired. To receive a PDF of other available work by John Vitale and for future updates and exhibitions, please fill in the form below. Thank you!