UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Brian Alfred, associate professor of art at Penn State, will open “Beauty is a Rare Thing,” a solo art exhibition featuring two distinct bodies of work, at Miles McEnery Gallery in New York City. The exhibit, which runs March 28 to May 11, takes viewers on a contemplative exploration of post-COVID-19 life, travel and the diverse expressions of contemporary musicians. Alfred will host an opening reception from 6-8 p.m. March 28 at the gallery.
The two bodies of work featured in the show comprise 25 of Alfred’s acrylic paintings and two animations.
The first collection introduces a series of paintings and an animation focused on the theme of windows. The work features scenes from high rises in Osaka, Japan; a night view of a building in the West Village with one set of lights on in the windows; a view of the sky in the Dominican Republic; and a dusk street scene in Brooklyn, New York.
“The paintings and animation collectively create a quiet and contemplative reflection on the resumption of travel post-pandemic, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the nuanced beauty of these scenes and the impact of seeing the world anew all over again,” Alfred said.
The second body of work showcases large-scale portraits of musicians, including J Balvin, Audrey Nuna, Jai Paul and Rosalía. This diverse array of artists spans genres such as hip-hop, reggaeton, pop, electronic and folk.
“Each portrait is a celebration of the influence, diversity, creativity and expression found within the contemporary music landscape,” Alfred said.
Alfred collaborated with musicians to soundtrack the animations for the show and has made music a key talking point during conversations with fellow artists for his award-winning “Sound & Vision” podcast. He himself is a former musician who has recorded two records and toured the country several times.
With the title for the show, “Beauty is a Rare Thing,” Alfred pays homage to Ornette Coleman, reflecting not only the influence the free jazz musician has had on the artist, but all music.
With his visual art, Alfred draws inspiration from the rich artistic tradition of Japan, particularly the ukiyo-e genre. Ukiyo-e, which translates to "pictures of the floating world," originated in the Edo period (17th to 19th centuries) and primarily depicted scenes of kabuki actors, Japanese women, landscapes and folklore.
Alfred said the philosophical underpinnings of ukiyo-e, such as the celebration of the everyday and the embrace of imperfections, resonate in his approach to art-making and inspired the artwork and theme for the show.
The opening reception on March 28 will feature a beer brewed by Grimm Ales exclusively for the show and a set of music deejayed by Evan Mast from the band Ratatat, who has produced tracks for Kid Audi, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Travis Scott and more.
For more on Alfred’s art, podcast and exhibitions, visit brianalfred.net.