Joshua Petker's second solo exhibition, Artaud's Shoe, features twelve new paintings that merge figuration and abstraction, creating fantastical dreamworlds. Inspired by Antonin Artaud's surrealism, the works blend diverse art historical influences, from 1960s psychedelia to Cubism and avant-garde cinema. Bold colors and dynamic compositions depict revelers, animals, and ghostly figures interacting. "Fruit Folly" features a cockatoo, greyhounds, and a Renaissance boy, while "Picnic Party" depicts a vibrant forest scene with 18th-century picnickers and phantom observers. Petker's paintings explore the interplay of celebration and transience, inviting viewers to engage with the mystery and multiplicity of art, honoring Artaud's legacy.
