James Spitznagel

In his pixelated and fragmented photo abstractions James Spitznagel captures a contemporary yet ultramodern vision of the inescapable future. Exploring the pervasiveness of mass media and the harsh separateness of modern sensuality, Spitznagel’s heavily spliced imagery is shattered beyond recognition as found images are photographed, then fractured, cropped, and woven into digital tapestries of light and form. The grainy, textured surfaces seem to be rippling in a silence broken only by the crackling hum of video interference. Their luminosity suggests the glowing screens of television and computers so ingrained in our daily lives. Inspired by Zen meditation, Abstract Impressionism and music, Spitznagel takes an inquisitive look at his surroundings, and through his works seeks to bridge the divide between emotion and reason in a computerized world. Through his digitized view of life we are given the chance to feel connected and emotionally involved with a digital world that often gives us a sense of alienation.

Spitznagel is a longtime resident of Ithaca, NY where his works have frequently been featured in recent years.