Billy Sullivan
The Persistence of Form
May 11 - June 1, 2010
Reception:
Thursday May 13, 2010 6-8 PM
Press Release
Billy Sullivan’s bold charcoal drawings tap into a vibrant tradition of realism. The faces he portrays are full of life and history, as well as being a testament to the artist’s commitment to his work. As his art evolves, Billy is interested in merging the two traditions of realistic portraits and graffiti street art. Billy names this style "street realism" and his work has gained exuberant responses from graffiti aficionados as well as art collectors. Similarly to other photorealist artists, Billy works from photographs and admits he spends much time on microscopic fragments of his pieces in order to achieve a more detailed tone.
Billy has said that his intention as an artist is to “go bold.” He enjoys producing pieces in which the more disturbing elements of the human condition are dominant, yet not at the expense of other areas of the work. Billy has much to reveal through his portraits - about himself, our world and the possibilities of art.
Artist Statement
My intention as an artist is “to go bold”. I enjoy producing my pieces in such a way that darkness is dominant in the drawing, but not so much darkness that the piece’s other areas are irrelevant. I want to catch the viewer’s eye and make them think about what they are staring at and why. All of my pieces are created with graphite and/or charcoal. I use the luxury of technology and produce my pieces from photographs. I spend most of the time on the microscopic fragments in my pieces, which allows for a larger and more detailed finish. I love to watch an audience react to my work, watch them delve into a piece, asking questions and seeking answers.
Invitation to the exhibition
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View the catalog page
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Artists in this exhibition
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