Nikki D. May

September 5, 2011

Paducah Artist Paul Lorenz Wows Louisville

I didn’t make it to the opening, but sometime between now and October 16 you can be sure that I’ll visit Pyro Gallery in Louisville to see this beautiful three-person exhibition which includes my friend and one of my favorite relocated Paducah artists, Paul Lorenz! I asked Paul to write up a couple of paragraphs about his relationship with this gorgeous gallery and how it came about, as well as his experience with the art scene in Louisville.

Here’s what he had to say:

Pyro Gallery is a cooperative gallery for Louisville, and near-Louisville artists. I was invited to exhibit through my friend Laura Eklund, whom I met while lecturing at the Florence Biennale in 2009. As a member of Pyro Gallery, she was able to invite me to participate in the exhibition. Living in Paducah is too far away for me to be a member of the cooperative, but being invited to exhibit was generous.  The exhibition runs through October 16. The 21C Museum Hotel and Proof on Main are just one block down from the gallery, so the location has its pluses.

The exhibition combines three diverse abstract artists into one room. My work is very much process oriented, while Laura is an abstract expressionist. Bob Lockhart, the third artist, is a sculptor creating small scale animals – very whimsical and humorous.

While wandering around Louisville after the exhibition, I was surprised to see how vibrant the art scene is, especially on East Market Street. It was 95 degrees at 9:00 p.m. and hundreds of people were out visiting the galleries, restaurants and bars. It was really a great time, though Louis and I were hoping to grab a bite at the Mayan Cafe and were turned away due to the length of the waiting list to get in – there was no way we could be seated before the kitchen closed. Oh well, next time…

And from Pyro Gallery’s website:

Laura Eklund, Bob Lockhart, and Paul Lorenz will display a rich aesthetic range, including works on canvas by Eklund and Lorenz and ceramic sculptures by Bob Lockhart. Their group show at PYRO brings together three distinct searchers who have pursued restless and singular directions toward excellence.

An ambitious and daring painter, Paul Lorenz is represented by galleries in Chicago and Europe. Starting with his early training in architecture, Lorenz has pursued new approaches that synthesize the wide scope of modernist and post-modern orientations. He has forged a dynamic presentation in various media that celebrates the private journey, making use of influences from the great conversations. His paintings are characterized by brilliant and innovative coloration and drawing that is both elemental and sophisticated. This is his and Laura’s debut before the Louisville community.

The combined power of their collective work promises to be a highlight of the fall season.