BROOKLYN, NY.- The 68 Jay St Bar in the heart of Dumbo, Brooklyn, is presenting a solo show of 18 new acrylic and watercolor paintings by California artist John Lavezzo, on view from September 16 to October 20, 2024.



Birds are thematic, rendered in elemental form and perched in repose among branches and leaves, still but not static. Lavezzo focuses his attention on fleeting subjects, often saturating his canvases in overlapping tones of crimson, cobalt, and seeing yellow, suggesting a conceptual devotion to these creatures or perhaps of memories fading in real time. With such close engagement, depicted at eye level, the artist draws connections between heaven and earth, blurring the literal lines that separate the ethereal from what is grounded.

“This is my environment,” Lavezzo says, suggesting these latest works are autobiographical in nature. The artist recalls moments of working in the courtyard outside his home on Westernesse Road in Davis, CA, en plein air, and having his senses drawn to – and bombarded by – various birds that were continually “singing, squawking, and mocking one another.” His mind soon wandered to his daughter Paloma, or “dove” in Spanish, a symbol of peace.



A self-described dissented Catholic, Lavezzo’s search for meaning within his imagery is a fluid process by design. With In Spades, two dove-like aviaries form an evident yin yang composite, clearly defined but using mottled edgework, indicating how shared and opposing experiences (grief, love, joy, and even faith) can occupy the same space. Another work, titled Purse, eschews birds in favor of free association wordplay, composed in loose cursive – Taxi, Bridge, Grid, Dig, Spoon, Loom, Cliff, Reckon, Purse – that dance in the treetops. Such wordplay, Lavezzo says, is “based on evolving rules that I bend or break on intuition … mirroring my approach to painting, where spontaneity leads to discovery.”

The exhibition is presented in partnership with NYC Bird Alliance (formerly NYC Audubon Society), with a portion of proceeds from art sales supporting their mission to protect New York City’s birds and wildlife.

The 68 Jay St Bar features two gallery spaces. Lavezzo’s larger acrylic-on-canvas works are being shown in the venue’s main exhibit space, while his smaller watercolor on-paper paintings are exhibited in the more intimate bar area. Learn more at www.68jaystreet.bar.

John Lavezzo earned his BFA from UC-Berkeley (’89) and MFA from Syracuse University (’96). He is the recipient of numerous grants and fellowships and has previously exhibited in solo and groups shows in California and New York. Lavezzo lives in Davis, California, and works out of his studio in nearby West Sacramento. See more of Lavezzo’s body of work on Instagram @johnlavezzo .