GUSTAVE CARLSON: HEIRLOOM BARNS AND FORGOTTEN HOUSES

April 25 – May 31, 2025

Artists’ Reception: Saturday, April 26, 3 – 5 pm

Artists’ Talk: Saturday, May 17, 3 -5 pm

Oakland Art Murmur / First Friday: May 2, 5 – 9 pm

Mercury 20 Gallery

475 25th Street, Oakland, CA 94612

Friday and Saturday, 12 – 5 pm (and by appointment)

Gustave Carlson’s body of work is an exploration of the agricultural landscape, with a particular emphasis on barns, agrarian vernacular, and forgotten houses. In his paintings, Carlson creates scenes that feel both familiar and mysterious. His acute awareness of building shapes and perspectives, coupled with his commitment to landscape stewardship, positions his work as a form of documentation. Carlson’s perception of the landscape as a blanket or wallpaper that envelops the surface is vividly translated into his art. His paintings evoke themes of decay, architectural typology, nostalgia, and distinctive color harmonies. Notably, the chairs in his paintings serve as metaphoric representations of the human figure. Carlson’s technique is marked by a juxtaposition of thick, layered applications with thin, less developed areas. Engaging in the simultaneous creation of multiple paintings, Carlson allows for the emergence and overlay of earlier forms, resulting in a palimpsest-like effect known as pentimento. This nuanced interplay between presence and absence is a cornerstone of his artistic comfort zone.