John Nelson's works often feature a central image superimposed over a collage of symbols and text, ranging from art criticism to nursery rhymes, creating an intuitive sense of the overwhelming influx of information in daily life. Nelson’s process is marked by a persistent, almost obsessive cycle of layering, painting, sanding, and repainting, which forms the grammar of his private language. This constant reworking not only shapes the surface but also narrates the story of the artwork’s creation, inviting viewers to share in the restless, sometimes anxious journey of art-making.
The power of Nelson’s work lies in the interplay between narrative and abstraction, balancing what is immediately accessible with what remains enigmatic. His faux-naive style masks a complex formalism, carefully crafted to both reveal and obscure meaning. “Ambiguity and metaphor are central to my work,” Nelson explains. “I believe the ambiguous is more engaging because it unfolds slowly, offering endless discovery and lasting intrigue.”
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