Shane Tolbert

Lives and works in Santa Fe, NM, USA

Artist statement

Shane Tolbert explores the intersection of memory, perception, and social structures through the language of abstraction in painting as well as collage and photography. He is fascinated by how memories shape our perception of reality and influence our understanding of the past and present. Tolbert often depict fragmented or distorted passages of gesture in his work to archive experiences and reflect the elusive nature of memory. These fragmented elements symbolize the way our recollections can be both clear yet ambiguous. Through abstract forms and carefully crafted color stories, Tolbert creates visual metaphors that invite viewers to engage with the work on a deeper level. This approach enables him to explore themes of ambiguity and duality, offering multiple interpretations and encouraging an introspective experience. The praxis of his studio explorations are concerned with the process and materiality of painting, and the way images can be made by relying on chance, unorthodox materials, and gesture. Although Tolbert's work builds on a premise of color field painting, the techniques he employ are far from traditional. He begin by thinning down acrylic paint which pools and flows on plastic sheeting. Once dry, the stains imprinted on the sheeting are applied to canvas using more wet paint as a binder. Outside the studio, Tolbert walks, take pictures of readymade construction solutions, and gathers ephemera. This is an open, geographical collaboration with his...

Artwork