While 2020 ushered in so many unexpected changes followed by new beginnings, Cleveland artist Mark Howard had already begun shifting his practice, instilling incremental new ideas. Much of Howard’s past work maintained a Black sensibility and an urban theme, using life in the streets as his primary influence. He recently began questioning the relevance of figurative subject matter which has been the core of his prolific painting, printmaking and collage work.

He states, “For years, a figurative style was the core of my vision, yet somehow abstraction was always rearing its head as if to say ‘what about me?’”

He began listening to that voice, and soon all narratives relating to the human body began to fade away. Relationships of bold shapes, color and texture are now taking their place.

This fall, HEDGE Gallery is thrilled to feature Howard’s most recent projects, from beautifully-crafted cut paper collage, to textured, large-scale paintings designed with a range of adventurous color hues that are inspired by Kirchner, the German expressionist painter.

Howard says about this change in subject matter: “In my past I ‘cut out’ imagery from the world. Now I do it with abstraction.”

Shape Shifters offers a public preview on Wednesday, September 15, from 5:30 to 7:30pm and opens on Friday, September 17, 5:00 to 8:00pm. On view until November 5.