Frame of Mind: A solo exhibition by Sage Barnes
'It seems like the world gets weirder by the day and we're constantly finding our own ways to make it through it. These mindsets help shape who we are, and our lives are a manifestation of them.'
Square One Gallery is proud to present "Frame of Mind" , a solo exhibition by artist Sage Barnes. The exhibition will be on view from April 25th - May 30th with a reception held at Square One Gallery April 25th from 6-9pm
Sage Barnes (American, b. 1995) is a Missouri based artist whose works seek to explore the universal human experiences through subtle humour and tongue in cheek wit. In his studio practice, Barnes strives to push the boundaries of materiality, seeking new challenges when it comes to the creative process by often incorporating various mediums such as neon, stucco, concrete, and other non-traditional elements to his works. Barnes continues to evolve in this sense and his current body of work reflects this with the incorporation of sculptural elements as well as physical interventions throughout the canvas.
“Frame of Mind” aims to delve deeper into the seemingly mundane and minute actions that create our daily “life”. It holds the magnifying glass to the behaviors, thought patterns and mindsets that act as stable forces during turbulent times. 'It seems like the world gets weirder by the day and we're constantly finding our own ways to make it through it. These mindsets help shape who we are, and our lives are a manifestation of them.' - Sage Barnes
These latest pieces have another element that stands out amongst Barnes’s previous bodies of work as they incorporate physical sculptures on each frame - bringing in an intervention not previously seen on prior works. “The physical elements are like the manifestation of our thoughts.” Barnes says “What we think eventually gets brought into reality and the frames with sculptural elements aid in communicating how all encompassing our mindsets are.”
Barnes studied at the FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising) in Los Angeles for a time before leaving to pursue a career as an artist. He first rose to prominence in 2016 with his refreshing take on urban art - these early pieces featured his signature suit and tie clad male figures and grew to expand into his wide range of mediums and imagery that are seen throughout his work today - some of the most prominent being the “Smiley” and “Balloon” themes that have become a Sage Barnes signature.
The artist works from his studio otherwise known as 'The Lab' in Kansas City, USA. His mode of production is extremely physical and involved, often posting videos of himself flinging paint against the canvas, or taking a hammer to the artwork to reveal an abstracted piece. The artist explores how this mode of destruction can lead to new forms of creation.
Barnes’s work can be found in esteemed private collections and galleries throughout North America and globally, as he is currently established both domestically and internationally.
