Event Horizon - Group Show at CMAY Gallery in Los Angeles

I'm happy to be in a group show with some fantastic painters opening this Saturday at CMAY Gallery on Wilshire Blvd. Extrapolating from the press release, "Event Horizon" was curated around a concept of artists who play in equal measures iconography and expressiveness. The chosen cohort consists Carlson Hatton, Hadley Holliday, Mira Schnedler, and myself. The works I am showing revisit the weeping super hero motif that is at the center of my "True Believers" series. A blubbering strongman's chubby tears take center stage in the two main works, and carry over to four other 12 x 9" auxiliary paintings. The show will be on display through June 29.

Sarah Awad at Night Gallery - Slideshow Review

This review was originally shared to my Instagram Stories Feed.

Upcoming Artist Talk on Instagram Live Feed

I was invited to give an Artist's Talk at Team One agency on Thursday, May 18th (today!). The hour-long talk is going to be about the evolution of my art practice over the years, my influences, and some of my thoughts on parenthood, creativity, and art. As an experiment, I've decided to do an "Instagram Live Feed" of the event, from about 3:30 until 4:30 pm, Pacific Standard Time. Feel free to watch and listen in here.

Nothing Special 2: Martha Harlan Morgan and Willa Wasserman

Dear Friends,

You are cordially invited to attend the public reception for Nothing Special 2: Martha Harlan Morgan & Willa Wasserman on Sunday, March 17 from 3-6pm.

Nothing Special 2
Martha Harlan Morgan & Willa Wasserman

For the second Nothing Special, UCLA MFA Candidate Willa Wasserman pairs recent still life paintings with a series of floral watercolors by their late grandmother, Martha Harlan Morgan. Something more than a hobbyist, but never a professional painter, Morgan’s influence was pivotal in encouraging Wasserman’s artistic inclinations as a youth.

This exhibition highlights conversations around the amateur and the professional, and the roles that gender can play in both shaping and validating creative pursuits.

Martha Harlan Morgan (1928 - 2015) won prizes for her white roses from the Roswell Garden Club of Atlanta Georgia. She wa an avid painter of watercolors.

Willa Wasserman (b.1990) is an MFA Candidate in Painting at UCLA. They also produce works with Jenny Gagalka and Beaux Mendes under the moniker, “En Plein Error.”

If you are unable to attend the public reception, you may arrange a private viewing by contacting Frank Stockton (fstockton@gmail.com), or by replying to this message.
 

Nothing Special: 4620 W. Jefferson Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA 90016
www.nothingspeciallosangeles.com
@nothingspeciallosangeles on Instagram

Happy 2019

Hello friends, and happy New Year!

2018 was a year of the highest highs and lowest lows for me in my professional and personal life. The year began with the birth of my first child, and the opening of my second solo show, Big House, at DENK gallery. In early August, Samuel Freeman Gallery presented a solo booth of my work at the Seattle Art Fair, and I was flying high until the sudden passing of my father from lymphoma turned my world upside-down. I’ve managed to stay relatively productive in the studio in the time since, but the heartbreaking loss of my dad underscored what is important to me in life beyond painting, which includes my family, friends, and the Los Angeles artist community.

• Odysseus Outwits the Giant & Untitled - New Paintings

• Big House Catalog w/ Limited Edition Linoleum-Print Dust Jacket Cover

• Nothing Special - Gallery Project Space

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New Paintings: Odysseus Outwits the Giant & James Joyce, Muscle Cars, Palm Trees

James Joyce, Muscle Cars, Palm Trees, 28 x 32 in., Oil on canvas, 2016-2018

Odysseus Outwits the Giant, 25 x 46 in., Oil on canvas with Artist's Frame, 2018

The series that kept me most occupied over the summer is a small group of paintings that stem from the You Are An Eagle Now work shown at the Seattle Art Fair. I cast the Eagle Scout as protagonist in several new “gutter” paintings that guest-star an appropriated image of James Joyce as the one-eyed proxy for Polyphemus. Follow me on Instagram (@fjstockton ) to see new works and works-in-progress.

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“Big House” Catalog w/ Limited Edition Linoleum-Print Dust Jacket Cover

The Big House printed catalog with Ltd. Edition Dust Jacket Cover. Contact for Availability.

I recently self-published a catalog documenting the installation and key works from the Big House show at DENK. Big House was comprised of 15 multi-paneled, mixed-media works composed as one cohesive installation of painting.

Each dust jacket for the Big House catalog features a spray-painted, hand-printed linoleum cut of the Two Palms motif, signed on the front and limited to an edition of 100. $250

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Nothing special los angeles - new exhibition project space

The Nothing Special features new work by Mark Flores & William E. Jones.

I’ve been working hard to tidy up a an area in my studio building to be used as a project space for showing the art of friends and colleagues. Nothing Special Los Angeles, is intended to become a space for conversations around contemporary art. You can follow Nothing Special on Instagram here, or just search for @nothingspeciallosangeles

The first show will feature new collages by artist and filmmaker William E. Jones, and a new dimensional painting by Mark Flores. William and Mark have been making work side-by-side for over 20 years, but have never done a two-person show together. I'm very grateful and excited to feature these new works in Nothing Special's inaugural show.

I will host public receptions from 3-6 pm on Sunday, January 13 and February 17, and by appointment.

Warmly,

Frank J. Stockton

"You're an Eagle Now" Reviewed in Galerie Magazine

I’m happy to share this mention of You’re An Eagle Now as one of the 2018 Seattle Art Fair highlights for Galerie Magazine by art critic Paul Laster:

Los Angeles’s Samuel Freeman Gallery presenting a playful solo booth installation of expressionistic paintings riffing on classical symbolism in American culture by Frank J. Stockton, a recent MFA graduate from UCLA.

Larry Gagosian Curates Showstopping Booth at Seattle Art Fair and Other Opening Day Observations, by Paul Laster, galeriemagazine.com, published August 2018 (link)

Seattle Art Fair - August 2-5, 2018

On August 2-5, 2018, I will exhibit a booth of paintings at the Seattle Art Fair. The installation, entitled You're An Eagle Now, is a combination of 10 large and small works featuring bald eagles, Boy Scouts, and sinks of dirty dishes. I’ll be present for the duration of the fair. Stop by and say hello! Here is a link for complementary VIP passes to the fair, courtesy of Samuel Freeman: http://seattleartfair.com/tickets/samuelfreeman18-vip

You're an Eagle Now - Studio Preview

On July 23, 2018 from 7-10 pm, I will host a casual viewing party of You're An Eagle Now, an installation of paintings to be exhibited at the Seattle Art Fair next month. Food, libations, and a box fan will be provided to help keep you cool. Kindly RSVP if you would like to attend

Double-Jointed Spiral

In a previous newsletter I mentioned that I was organizing a collection of notes into a ‘zine. Double-Jointed Spiral is a collection of ideas and notes on art and painting, presented as poetry. DJS is organized into five chapters distinguished by color, bound by paperclips. Email me if you’d like to purchase one for $25 shipped in the U.S.A.

Big House exhibition reviews

I am grateful to have received a couple of thoughtful reviews on January’s Big House solo show at Denk Gallery in Downtown Los Angeles. The first is by Genie Davis for artandcakela.com, and the other is with long-time supporter Beatrice Chassepot of beartmagazine.com. Check them out!

Big House Opening at Denk Gallery

As if becoming a parent wasn’t enough excitement, my solo show, Big House, opened on January 20th at Denk Gallery in the Downtown L.A. Arts District. The opening had great energy and featured an open bar, which kept spirits high. Vanessa was even able to make a brief appearance. In addition to Big House, Denk is also displaying a fantastic group show, Shift, of the esteemed artists Iva Gueorguieva, Karen Carson, Kim Dingle, and Elisa Johns, in the front gallery space.

Denk is a relatively new gallery, but already has an impressive roster of artists that includes the likes of Tim Hawkinson and Folkert de Jong. It even has its own parking lot, which will come as a relief to those of you inclined to stop by (please stop by!). The show is only up until February 17th, 2018. www.denkgallery.com

Click here to view works available for purchase on Artsy.

A New Addition to the Family!

On Tuesday, January 2nd, Vanessa and I welcomed our first baby into the world. He was born weighing 6 lbs., 12 oz., and has gained about two pounds in his first month. His hobbies include eating, sleeping, and rolling from front-to-back during tummy time. My new hobbies include changing diapers, staying awake into the wee hours of the morning, and taking him for walks around the neighborhood.

New American Paintings #133

The Pacific Coast issue of New American Paintings (#133) arrived in January, featuring three new paintings that are included in the Big House installation at Denk Gallery. Don’t ask me to autograph it for you, though!

Group Show at the Alliance Française de Los Angeles

This month, friends Beatrice and Laurent Chassepot are exhibiting a portion of their art collection at the Alliance Française de Los Angeles that includes one of my paintings. The show will be on display during the entire month of February.

Village (2016) will be on display at the Alliance Française de Los Angeles in February 2018.

Click the link below for more information: http://afdela.org/event/art-exhibition-beatrice-laurent-chassepot-french-art-week-2018/

I am also putting the final touches on a collection of casual notes and writings on painting & art called Double Jointed Spiral. Shoot me an email and let me know if you would like a copy when it’s finished.

Thanks for reading. I look forward to sharing more news in a few months.

Exhibition Announcement: "BIG HOUSE" Solo Show at DENK Gallery

Hi everyone,

I’m delighted to announce that an upcoming solo show at Denk Gallery in the Downtown Arts District of Los Angeles opens soon.

January 20 - Feburary 17, 2018
Denk Gallery http://www.denkgallery.com/exhibitions/frank-j-stockton
Opening Reception: Saturday, January 20th from 7-9pm

SUMMER 2017 OPEN STUDIO RECAP

On June 11, my studio mates and I hosted our first ever Open Studio event to share recent and in-progress artwork with the public. We garnered a solid turnout, and response to the work was enthusiastic all-around. We all agreed that the experience was a success and look forward to hosting another in 2018. I would like to offer my personal thanks to those of you who were able to attend.

AMERICAN GENRE: CONTEMPORARY PAINTING EXHIBITION AND SYMPOSIUM

American Genre: Contemporary Painting at the Institute of Contemporary Art at the Maine College of Art in Portland, ME is a survey of contemporary art exploring the role of three historical painting genres as a framework of knowledge for understanding and contextualizing contemporary painting practices.

Swimmer, oil on un-stretched canvas, 57.5 x 72 in., 2017 (cropped)

When I attended the show’s opening back in July, I felt a tremendous sense of humility and gratitude to see my painting, Swimmer (2017), hanging alongside the work of some of my favorite painters working today.

On Friday, September 15th the Institute will host a daylong symposium and panel discussion featuring a handful of participating artists and writers, along with the critic Barry Schwabsky and the show’s curator, Michelle Grabner.

For further information on the show, click here: https://www.meca.edu/event/american-genre-contemporary-painting-exhibition/ For information about the symposium on September 15, click here: https://www.meca.edu/event/ica-meca-american-genre-painting-symposium/

WEST BRANCH #85

An Exodus, oil and thread on un-stretched canvas, 84.5 x 145 in., 2016

Hi there, I’m happy to announce that a wrap-around crop of my painting, An Exodus (2016), is featured on the current edition of West Branch, a professional literary journal published thrice yearly by Bucknell University. The journal, which features short stories, essays, poetry, and book reviews, reproduces a work by a contemporary artist on the cover of each issue.

Click here for the publication website: https://www.bucknell.edu/west-branch-wired/print-magazine.html

Thank you for reading. I expect to have more exciting news to share in the coming months. In the meantime, follow me on Instagram where I often post studio shots and works in progress. Have a great Fall!

AMERICAN GENRE: CONTEMPORARY PAINTING // JULY 20 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

I’m excited to announce that I will be participating in a group exhibition in Portland, ME this Summer. The exhibition will run from July 20 - September 15, 2017, and will conclude with a live symposium on the subject of genre in contemporary painting. Curated by Michelle Grabner.

Reception: Thursday, July 20, 2017, 5:00–8:00pm

Institute of Contemporary Art at the Maine College of Art in Portland, ME

Information: https://www.meca.edu/event/american-genre-contemporary-painting-exhibition/