Darius Yektai "On Country Ground" at Tripoli Gallery
Tripoli Gallery of Contemporary Art in Southampton launches its summer schedule with On Country Ground, an exhibition of new paintings by Sagaponack artist Darius Yektai. The show will open with a reception for the artist on Thursday, May 23, from 6 to 8 p.m.
An East End native and resident, Yektai is, as the title implies, simply “on country ground,” according to his gallery, which notes that his studio and love of nature is cradled in the Hamptons community, but his vision extends beyond these shores. “It is only here where the beaches run for miles and the sky is unrestricted that I can breathe at ease and focus on the complexities in the painted surface of my work,” the artist explains.
For Yektai, surface is of the utmost concern. The painter often experiments with medium and technique, and this focus on the tactile and his labors to achieve it are quite evident in the new collection at Tripoli. While his love of surface is a constant, the Yektai’s subjects span a wide range of settings, including swimming holes in the Adirondaks, cliffscapes in Mallorca and the pristine shores of St. Barths, to name a few.
In toto, the work looks at landscape and figure—as well as the physicality of the paint itself—and through that exploration, Yektai presents something of an emotional memoir for his viewer to inhabit.
Darius Yektai studied at Occidental College in Los Angeles, and the American University in Paris where he completed his BA in art history. Over the years, his work has been recognized with various awards including, Best Representational Work (2010), Best Sculpture (2008) and Best In Show (2002) from Guild Hall’s Annual Members Show. He recently showed a series of Untitled Wave Paintings at Peter Marcelle Gallery in Bridgehampton, and On Country Ground is his second solo exhibition at Tripoli Gallery.
Tripoli Gallery of Contemporary Art is located at 30A Jobs Lane in Southampton. Call 631-377-3715 or visit tripoligallery.com. Email [email protected] to RSVP for the opening on Thursday, May 23, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Artist’s bio was taken from Tripoli Gallery‘s press release.