NEW YORK, NY.- Jonathan LeVine Gallery is presenting The Redistribution of Destruction, a series of new paintings by James Marshall (Dalek) in what is his third solo exhibition at the gallery.
The Redistribution of Destruction marks Marshall’s return to the New York art world after a five year hiatus during which he perfected a purely abstract aesthetic. Bold, flat colors form planes of space that are impeccably separated by precise geometric line-work. Giving the impression of movement, his pairing of vivid shades evoke a three-dimensional depth and engages viewers with varying optical perspectives.
Marshall’s work has significantly evolved since his debut solo show at the gallery back in 2007. At the time he was known solely as Dalek and his iconic Space Monkey, a mischievous character born out of graffiti, was featured in every vibrant composition. By 2010, he dropped the Dalek moniker to reveal his true name and debuted paintings that reduced the Space Monkey and his surroundings to their basic underlying linear components.
The character that once defined Marshall’s work is now only a starting point for paintings rich in complex layers, illustrating the push and pull of forces he sees in contemporary life. “It’s an ever-expanding, contracting barely breathing universe, contemplating suffocation while simultaneously hovering over the consequences of not exploring further the options that no longer lay waiting in the back of the coat room.”
James Marshall (Dalek) is currently based in North Carolina. He earned his bachelor’s degree in anthropology and sociology from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1992 and received his BFA from the Art Institute of Chicago in 1995. That same year he developed his Space Monkey character and took the name Dalek, fostering an aesthetic that merged street art, cartoons, Japanese pop and the energy of the urban punk scene. In 2001, he reached a major turning point in his studio practice while working as an apprentice to the world-renowned artist Takashi Murakami. Marshall’s work has been shown in galleries and museums across North America, Europe and Japan. He has been featured in a wide range of publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Juxtapoz, The Wall Street Journal and Rolling Stone.
