In our lives, we often turn away from the things we don’t want to see or things that cause us to feel upset. We turn our heads away from events that we know are horrible and pretend they don’t exist, when instead we should be facing them head on. Don Perlis’ canvases are so large, it’s impossible to ignore what’s on them completely, forcing the viewer to instead come to terms with the emotions they feel when looking at his art. Perlis was born on July 29, 1941, and paints contemporary scenes portraying the everyday life of people in New York City. Having debuted his first public exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1971, Perlis has always known he’d wanted to be an artist. Throughout his life he’s studied and been inspired by many great renaissance painters such as Antonio Allegri and traveled the world to appreciate different kinds of artists from different cultures and eras. Don Perlis’ skills shine in all his work, and it’s impossible to categorize him as a solely “figurative” artist. His work varies from narrative pieces, landscapes, still lives, portraits, nudes, etc. However, some of his most striking pieces are his paintings of life in New York City in the 80’s and onward. Perlis’ paints what he sees while living in NYC, which is both the grim reality of poverty, racism, violence, as well as the undeniable truth of life, diversity, and humanity. His work shows in unflinching detail narratives of people being harassed and killed on the subway, homeless men sleeping in the streets, and amputees made to stand on a moving train since nobody will offer him a seat. It’s not far off to claim that some people would find these paintings a little disturbing, but that is exactly why it is important to look at them. By facing the unfortunate horrors that exist and accepting them as truth, we take one step further from ignorance.
“Many people will find the paintings disturbing, and I don’t mind that because I don’t really believe that the function of art is to be over a purple couch in somebody’s living room.” – Don Perlis, Don Perlis, a New York Painter, 1993
However, grim truths are far from the only subject Perlis paints. He also paints gorgeous scenes from dramatic operas and theater, the rich and lively atmosphere of subway performers, and truly stunning landscapes. Don Perlis’ work first and foremost evokes emotion in the human soul, weather that be positive or negative. His paintings force us to come face to face with the wonders and terrors of our world and gives us a chance to embrace all that comes with living in it.
https://www.donperlis.com/ (Don Perlis, a New York Painter video. Very interesting, give it a watch!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hau13ARzRc&t=25s
Featured: Union Square/Breakdancers 2 27 3/4 x 72" by Don Perlis Levitation 68” x 50” by Don Perlis Incident - Left Panel 84” x 66” (Left panel) by Don Perlis
Home 72” x 96” by Don Perlis
