Strut Gallery Presents: NEW WORKS BY LAURA LOVING & PAUL BYRON DOWNS - March 2- 27, 2006

Strut Gallery NYC Presents - New Works by Laura Loving and Paul Byron Downs

By Jeff Green

NEW YORK – Artists Laura Loving and Paul Byron Downs will exhibit new works at Strut Gallery located in SoHo, New York City, March 2-27. The opening reception will take place on Thursday, March 2, from 6-9 p.m. Loving and Downs will exhibit paintings in their signature styles and also incorporate pieces exploring different media such as collage, photography and silk-screen.

Loving’s subject matter for this show focuses on an eccentric mix of cityscapes and garden imagery. Painting with enamel on canvas, she has developed a distinctive style consisting of bold lines, dramatic surface patterns and pure color that result in vibrant paintings with a certain poetic energy. “I take everyday images and recreate them into my own animated version of the world. I consider my art to be an invention of reality rather than purely an exact imitation,” says Loving. “I exaggerate color and shape to create art that is humorous, alive and uplifting. Without question, I consider making a connection with someone through a painting the best part of being an artist.”

Downs’ subject matter ranges from everyday people and objects to his interpretations of the images of celebrities and pop culture that incessantly bombard people. The artist says he explores how politicians, celebrities and the wealthy are branded into daily life by the media, creating the illusion of intimate relationships. Stylistically, the subjects in his works are flattened into a two-dimensional form with an expressive use of color. Downs explores new directions using a variety of media in a new series surrounding the actress Gwyneth Paltrow. In this series, collage and photography are incorporated.

Both artists, who currently call New York City home, are natives of Atlanta and graduates of the University of Georgia. After graduation, Loving moved to Nice on the French Riviera, where she worked and exhibited, while Downs studied art in Paris and London. Pursuing new experiences and their art careers, they each later relocated to New York.

Loving and Downs have exhibited in solo and group shows throughout the United States. In Atlanta, Loving was commissioned to create a mural for Centennial Olympic Park and the 1998 official image for Music Midtown. In New York, Loving created the official image for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2005 Fall Cabaret Convention and has exhibited her work at Lincoln Center’s Cork Gallery, Pratt Institute and Anthem Gallery. Loving is also represented by Tamarack Galleries in Naples, Florida, The Wonderwall Gallery in Cirencester, England and Chaleurs du Sud in Nice, France.

Downs has shown his work at Lotus Gallery in New York, Isolte and Ernden Galleries in Provincetown, Massachusetts and 311 in Atlanta. The Creek, an art-inspired hotel in Miami, hired Downs to design a room that was featured on the television program Deco Drive. Downs’ artwork has also appeared in Interior Design Magazine, W, New York Magazine and Men’s Health.

For more information on the artists, contact Laura Loving at 212.580.0856, or visit www.lauraloving.com or www.paulbyrondowns.com.