Paul P.

This solo show is by Canadian painter Paul P., known for his portraits of beautiful young men. 'Dusks, Lamplights' brings together oil paintings, pastels, watercolours, drawings and prints, made over the past three years.

Basing many of his figures on models in soft porn magazines from the late 1960s to the early 1980s, Paul P. evokes a 'golden age' of sexuality, at the height of gay liberation and before the AIDS crisis. In 'Dusks, Lamplights' with Venice as a recurrent backdrop and the works of Whistler as influence, Paul P. depicts androgynous models swooning, waiting and peering expectantly from windows. Metaphors for the collapse of two epochs--Europe before WWI and North America before AIDS-- Paul P. captures the brilliance of their final exhausted moments.

Paul P. was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and currently lives in Paris. His work has featured in recent solo exhibitions at Daniel Reich Gallery, New York, Marc Selwyn Fine Art, Los Angeles, and Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris, and in group shows at Mary Boone Gallery and David Zwirner and the recent exhibition 'The Male Gaze' at PowerHouse Arena in Brooklyn. In 2006, P. collaborated with designer Hedi Slimane on the spring Dior Homme campaign, which was inspired by his drawings.

'Dusks, Lamplights' is curated by Helena Reckitt, Senior Curator of Programs.

Paul P. 
Dusks, Lamplights
Kurator: Helena Reckitt