ARTIST'S STATEMENT

These paintings are part of my ongoing “Family Dynamics” series examining the struggles, fears, joys, mysteries, frustrations, contradictions and idiosyncrasies of being a member of humanity in an increasingly chaotic and mystifying world, the concept of “family” signifying either a traditional insular family or the global human family, with direct parallels often uncomfortably emerging. Accordingly, and not surprisingly, disjointed scenes of psychological weight play out in these stark, roughly rendered portraits of interrelated but seemingly detached figurative entities. Regardless of the intended meaning or expected outcome at the center of these dramas, the duality of the central characters’ simultaneous isolation and quest for connection portends either a disturbing edge or a calming serenity, with the question of which it will be left lurking in the details. Here all human desires involve some degree of struggle, doubt and alienation, but eventually through faithful intention can yet suggest a path to joy or at least acceptable resolution.

Long-time influences, among others, include Max Beckmann, Edvard Munch, Bob Thompson, George McNeil, Richard Diebenkorn, David Park, Francesco Clemente, R.B. Kitaj and Willem de Kooning. More recent influences include Cecily Brown, Dana Schutz, Cristina de Miguel, Robert Nava, Eddie Martinez, Joe Bradley and David Humphrey.  

                                                                                         Don Keene
                                                                                         2025