The Poetry of Form: Five Atlanta Artists Working in the Figurative Tradition

Suzy Schultz, Kevin Chambers, Patrick McGannon, James Allen, Dan Willis

Representational figurative art has, throughout history, been revered and practiced by artists.  In the mid 20th century, it began to fall out of favor, and was seen as old-fashioned, even naive.  Instead of learning from the old masters, so they could continue the tradition, add to it, and make it their own, artists were taught to start from scratch, to rely on their “genius”, and attempt to create something, having no training or skills.  Art became revered if it were ironic, cynical, clever, detached, or made a social statement.  Attempting to paint something of beauty or poignancy was disdained.

In the last few decades, art ateliers have sprung up in response to artists seeking to learn the skills needed to create representational art.  In Atlanta, there has been a small, but growing, group of artists entering into that tradition of working from a model to hone the skills needed to create figurative art.  They currently meet weekly at the studios of Kevin Chambers and Dan Willis, where artworks line the walls, and create spaces of inspiration.

This group of artists are seeking to create work that connects with and explores the depth of human emotion and experience.  To make sense of the world around them.  To have an outlet for their observations of human frailty, suffering, beauty, poignancy, awe.   

Although each artist has their own distinct style, they are each bringing their own contemporary take to their work.  

We invite you to enter into their observations and creations, and hope that there is something of your own human experience that you connect with, in their work.