Adam Umbach: Halcyon Daze

Roman Fine Art in Sag Harbor is currently hosting “Halcyon Daze,” a solo exhibition by Brooklyn-based painter Adam Umbach. This exhibition marks Umbach’s first solo show at Roman Fine Art and showcases new work from his ongoing series, “Playtime.” The exhibition will continue through Sunday, February 28, and the gallery will host a private cocktail reception for the artist on Saturday, February 13, from 5 to 7 p.m.

This collection of paintings explores a collective nostalgia for childhood memories by juxtaposing detailed photorealistic representations of everyday objects with expressionistic mark making. By using his nondominant hand to create the thickly rendered lines and forms, Umbach constructs a dynamic sense of movement and physicality on the canvas that lends a sculptural, almost three-dimensional quality to the picture plane. This formal tension mirrors the balance between his playful, often humorous choice of subjects with the weight of the memories they symbolize — a sense of loneliness pervading a singular teddy bear, toy truck or boat combined with the comfort and hope that it brings.

Having begun his painting career with minimalist canvases based on the enigmatic names of color swatches, Umbach’s creative approach has expanded to experiments with abstraction, geometric painting, and expressionism. The evolution of his painting is markedly influenced by his surroundings, from the maritime imagery and seaside colors of East Hampton and Maine, to the graphic style of New York’s architecture and graffiti.

Umbach’s work pairs formalist explorations with photorealistic depictions of recognizable objects, including structures and toys such as rubber ducks and stuffed bunnies, and pink flamingo lawn ornaments. A biographical painter, Umbach’s chosen subjects, which often repeat through differing bodies of work, belong to a personal and familial iconography. Though sourced from his life, Umbach’s paintings invite viewers to connect with this imagery by evoking their own experiences and memories.

Adam Umbach was born in Chicago and currently lives and works in Brooklyn. After being inspired from an early age by the Modern Masters collection at the Art Institute of Chicago, he received his BFA in painting from the University of Wisconsin. He has exhibited his large-scale paintings nationally and has also shown in numerous art fairs.

Roman Fine Art is at 11 Bridge Street in Sag Harbor. For more information visit artsy.net/roman-fine-art.