An American Family

About the exhibition:
This exhibition showcases an array of paintings, drawings, photography, and collages that meticulously chronicle the family of artist Gary Grissom. Grissom, known for his distinctive approach to patterning, surface detailing, and color variation, offers a nuanced exploration of his familial journey following his marriage to Sunjeon Lee in Seoul, South Korea. As contemporary American families become more diverse, Grissom's personal story exemplifies a common narrative point for contemporary Americans.
Derived from a synthesis of reference photographs and firsthand encounters with his family in both the United States and Korea, Grissom's artwork is a manifestation of visually captured experiences. Each piece originates from observed scenes, documented through photography and later transcribed through sketches. Whether featuring fictitious groupings within imaginary settings or preserving the essence of specific locales, the artwork conveys a rich narrative of cultural exchange.
Reflecting on his formative years and subsequent experiences, Grissom notes his lack of exposure to non-white Americans at his school during the 1960s and later immersion in the diverse milieu of the Poor People's Campaign. “In the 1960s, my Marple-Newtown Senior High School class did not have a person with a non-white identity. My first experience in a diverse community was with the Poor People's Campaign starting in Memphis through the 1968 ending in the Resurrection City encampment in Washington, DC.” His enduring commitment to a diverse community is exemplified by a five-decade tenure at the Community College of Philadelphia.
The exhibition aspires to resonate with viewers, encouraging them to discern shared experiences within the depicted familial scenarios to craft a portrait of human commonality. A poignant statistic underscores the contemporary relevance of the exhibition, as almost half (46%) of all multi-racial Americans are under the age of 18.
ABOUT THE ARTISt:
Gary Grissom is an artist in the tradition of a bricoleur who putters about, a tinker, fiddling around in numerous art forms. Photography, painting, media, video, writing and theater have been visited with a DIY hodgepodge rendering of many different ingredients. His approach to art making is similar to a chef assembling a salad. Grissom constantly seeks new ideas, styles and subjects. Change is good, and he wouldn’t want have it any other way.
Grissom studied art and the history of art at Community College of Philadelphia, Philadelphia College of Art and the University of Pennsylvania. During the 1970s, he painted large grid structures of subtle color variations. His art has evolved to depicting representational images and narratives. Grissom continues to maintain a maximalist obsession with patterning, surface detail and color variation. Currently his paintings, drawings and photography is a response to what he sees.