Lenworth McIntosh represented by pt.2 Gallery
Portrait by Fela Raymond
pt. 2 Gallery is pleased to announce the representation of Oakland-based multidisciplinary artist Lenworth McIntosh. The painter, photographer, and printmaker uses color and a distinct figurative language to weave together memory and reality; tying together myriad cultures and artistic media, from music and dance to painting and photography through subtle narrative.
McIntosh’s paintings, resplendent in warm tones, use human-like forms the artist refers to a ‘birds’ to reconsider memories and to archive the cultural history of his native Jamaica. These simplified human forms use large swatches of vivid color and emotive lines to create narrative through a sense of movement. Carried over directly from his daily sketchbook, McIntosh’s hard lines are gestural yet intentional, directing both the figures and the viewer’s conception of them. Looking at the past with a mature soul and a new-found eye, McIntosh brings new life to scenes of country life and dancehall culture, as well as the countless creative and inspirational people who have shaped his life. His to-be-titled upcoming solo exhibition scheduled for July 2021 explores the influence of American television during his upbringing, as well as heightened energy instigated by other creative forms such as music and dance.
Lenworth McIntosh
”Philly’s Golden Classic”
Oil on paper
30 x 20 inches
2021
To coincide with his representation, pt. 2 Gallery will release two new paintings on paper. In Philly’s golden classic, a female figure is portrayed dancing alone, caught in the fervor of the night, blissfully alone in the energy of the moment. The piece B is for black portrays a black woman holding a large, stylized heart in her hands. Inspired by the Black ABC flashcards, a project created by two teachers in the South Side of Chicago in the 1970s to help teach black children to read, the piece is a reminder of the power of black love. Despite its relative small, the piece reverberates with intimacy.
Lenworth “Joonbug” McIntosh (b. 1987 Jamaica, West Indies) is a visual artist, photographer, illustrator and designer based in Oakland, CA by way of Dallas, TX. His quirky wit, warmth, and diversity of pursuits give his work vibrant soul while his approach is indirect; he portrays things as they are without revealing all of the answers. McIntosh received his BFA in graphic design from McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. He has exhibited extensively in the Bay Area, including at pt. 2 Gallery in Oakland and Swim Gallery in San Francisco, as well as in Dallas, Texas at {neighborhood}.
Lenworth McIntosh
”B is for black”
Marker on paper
10.5 x 8.5 inches
2021