A lesser version of itself; melancholic hopefulness Is indulging in comfort inherently exciting?
Action and reaction, or lack thereof – a self- inflicted result of isolation

A relevant excerpt from Finnish writer Tove Jansson’s short story ‘The Wolf’ as a part of the collection of stories titled ‘The Woman Who Borrowed Memories’: Perhaps she might have discovered something new and important. It was even possible that they were looking for roughly the same thing – the dark, the wild, the shy, and the lost security of being little. She couldn’t know.

The act of googling symptoms is a reaction of an anxious impulse, grasping for a sense of control. This act is violent, pure, and inherently self sabotaging, offering no real solutions except for the hope of peace of mind and comfort, but it almost always makes things more worrisome. The intention of these paintings thus far has been to highlight this poignant process and never-ending cycle of the search for comfort, stability, and new experiences in a worrisome and ever-changing world.

This body of work is meant to exist in the liminal space of anxiety and isolation. The compositions are primarily still-life based, with two defining compositions presented in a delicate arrangement of deeply personal items, curated within each painting to display a moment in time – both physically and as an emotional placeholder. The works thus far mostly depict dreary bedroom still life settings, that are meant to evoke a sense of cold isolation from the outside world. All images referenced in the works are taken by me, throughout the last year. Some images are digitally manipulated and constructed in photoshop, and others are painted directly from the photo, the way it appears in my camera roll . I am always documenting what is around me, creating emotional placeholders for me to look back on and immortalise in a painting. 

– Kyler Garrison, 2024

Kyler Garrison, born 2001 in Brooklyn, NY, currently lives and works in Brooklyn.

The constant onslaught of digital distractions can often make it difficult for our minds to fully engage with the present moment, leading to a fragmented view of the past – where detail gets lost in translation and distorted with time. Informed by a post-internet upbringing, the internet, the way we interact with it, and the effect it has on one’s memory contain themes and subjects that influence my work. My practice consists of airbrush-heavy mixed media paintings, utilising the soft and hazy manner of the medium to communicate these themes. Memory, both personal and collective, is a fundamental aspect of human experience, and plays a large role in the subject matter and themes of my work. It shapes our identities, informs our beliefs, and influences our actions. Yet memory is also fleeting and malleable, subject to the whims of time and circumstance. My work is intended to exist in this liminal space, inviting thought and reflection on the role of influence and memory, and the ways in which it can both enhance and deceive our understanding of the world around us.

Garrison’s work primarily includes airbrush paintings depicting experience and influence in the post-internet era. Garrison’s practice is self-taught with early inspirations in skateboarding and graffiti. His recent exhibitions include “Pop Song” solo show at Village in collaboration with Screw Gallery (2022), “New York” group show at the Edward Mooney House curated by Kenny Schacter and Olesya Ivanishcheva (2022), “Memory Echoes” a duo exhibition with sculptor Andrew Orloski at Lorin Gallery La Brea 92023), and “Body of Armor”, his first exhibition with Milan, Italy’s Plan X Gallery (2023).