Geoff Hippenstiel: PURITY

For Immediate Release - Holly Johnson Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of, Geoff Hippenstiel: PURITY. The artist brings a fresh approach to expressionism with new, large-scale oils paired with a selection of small works on paper. An opening reception will be held for the artist on Saturday, April 7 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. This exhibition marks the artist's second solo show with the gallery and will continue through June 23.

Geoff Hippenstiel pushes abstraction in a manner that reinvigorates the materiality of paint. Using diverse materials such as enamel, wax, metallic and fluorescent artist’s pigments, as well as industrial paints, he allows for an allusion of depth while affirming the importance of surface. His works are a study in contrast — explosive yet controlled, abstract but still vaguely representational. Wielding a brush, a palette knife, and airbrush, he builds up layers of paint with an innovative technique that still pays homage to gestural abstraction. Abstract expressionism will continue as a creative force as long as artists like Hippenstiel continue to explore its many aspects, revitalizing it and bringing it into the twenty-first century.

Hippenstiel has been influenced by German expressionism as well as contemporary painters, one of which is Gerhard Richter who once said, “One has to believe in what one is doing, one has to commit oneself inwardly, in order to do painting.” those words apply to Hippenstiel’s artistic convictions — “You have to keep growing, you have to keep moving. Otherwise, what’s the point?” Hippenstiel affirms: “I don’t think labels fit but I’m pretty sure I can say I’m a painter, I’m pretty sure about that.”

Geoff Hippenstiel received an M.F.A. in Drawing and Painting from the University of Houston, TX (2010) and a B.F.A. in Drawing and Painting from the University of Houston, TX (2006). Recent solo exhibitions include Romance: Geoff Hippenstiel, Devin Borden Gallery, Houston, TX (2017); Murder Ballad: Geoff Hippenstiel, Holly Johnson Gallery, Dallas, TX (2014),Territorial Pissings, Devin Borden Gallery, Houston, TX (2013). Recent group exhibitions include Outside the Lines, Contemporary Art Museum Houston, Houston, TX (2013-2014); GRADE(climbing), Makebish Gallery, New York, NY (2013); Texas Biennial 2013, Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum, San Antonio, TX; and Just then and again, The UNO St. Claude Gallery, New Orleans, LA (2013).

Since 2010, Hippenstiel’s work has been featured and reviewed in various articles and publications such as: The Houston Press, Glasstire, Arts+Culture Texas Magazine, Art in America, artltd, the Houston Chronicle, Fluent~Collaborative.org…might be good, Visual Art Source, and many more.

Holly Johnson Gallery is located in Dallas’ Design District at 1845 Levee St #100 in Dallas, TX 75207. Gallery hours are 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday. The gallery is a founding member of Contemporary Art Dealers of Dallas. For more information email info@hollyjohnsongallery.com, or visit hollyjohnsongallery.com.