NEW YORK, NY.- Michael Patterson-Carver’s drawings are a candid and direct look at the political realm, dividing into two distinct genres: those that represent well-known world leaders and power mongers, and others that represent ordinary men and women, working for change through direct action and demonstrations. The latter are always gently smiling, standing shoulder to shoulder, their collective mass filling the picture plane, topped by placards voicing their demands, hopes and desires. They smile because, according to Patterson-Carver, they are quite sure of their success.

In past exhibitions, drawings depicted colorful crowds of relentlessly optimistic protestors from historical as well as contemporary situations, ranging from women’s suffrage to school segregation to gay marriage. In this exhibition -- his second solo exhibition at the gallery -- nearly all of the protest scenes deliver a consistent message: “WE NEED WORK,” and “WE NEED HEALTH CARE.” Depictions of allegorical narratives, complex conspiracy theories and political satire punctuate the protest scenes and are marked by a dark, cynical humor.

Patterson-Carver is a self-taught artist, born 1958 in Chicago, and currently homeless in the Los Angeles area. Inspired by childhood exposure to the civil rights movement, he has been a lifelong activist and considers himself a political refugee. Since 2007, Patterson-Carver has had solo exhibitions at White Columns, New York; Small A Projects, Portland, OR; and Sorry We’re Closed in Brussels. In 2008, Patterson-Carver was the recipient of the Altoids Award and an exhibition at the New Museum. Since then. Michael has lived in several locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico and has been included in museum and gallery exhibitions in London, Madrid, Saskatchewan, and Montreal.