Where: Ro2 Art | The Cedars

1501 S Ervay St. Dallas, TX 75215

Closing Reception: Saturday, January 30, 12-5 PM

Dallas, November 2020 - Ro2 Art is proud to present Hard Work, No Play, a solo exhibition featuring new works by artist Brandon Thompson. The show will run from December 12 through January 30, 2021. The exhibition will open with an artist reception at Ro2 Art The Cedars located at 1501 S Ervay St, Dallas, TX and will take place from 12-5 PM.

Brandon Thompson's visual practice concentrates primarily on painting and sculptural forms, with Thompson acting as a cultural anthropologist. Through works that reflect his memories and community, the absurd, humorous, and emotive snapshots from everyday life are amplified in cartoonish pictorials.

Thompson now introduces a fox-like character, reminiscent of the African American folk trickster figures, Br'er Rabbit and Br'er Fox. In the folktales, Br'er Fox is always outwitted by Br'er Rabbit, no matter how smart and crafty he is. The fox character acts as a vehicle representing Thompson's inner thoughts and the truths about the so-called "bad guy", who might just be highly misunderstood.

In Hard Work, No Play see the trials and tribulations of just trying to complete the necessary task of maintaining the lawn and the failed attempts of just trying to have a little fun.

Artist Statement

“My work is inspired by the neighborhoods and culture I grew up in -that being the South Dallas county area, and the lifestyles of those neighborhoods. Taking references from the fashion and hairstyles, slang, music, heroes, and everyday events, and then reimagining them into colorful paintings and sculptures. Some of my references come from biblical stories, inside jokes, African-American history and literature. Through these artworks I want to create realistic and surrealistic imagery to show the feeling of belonging and not belonging.”

About The Artist

Brandon Thompson is a fine artist living and working in Cedar Hill, TX. He earned his Bachelor of Art in Graphic Design from the University of Texas in Arlington. He began painting in 2017 as a way to get away from his digital work from studying visual communication and found the medium the most effective. Thompson’s paintings showcase his experiences growing up in the suburb of Cedar Hill from a non-autobiographical point. He creates cartoonish imagery based on nostalgia, fashion, and culture, with some emphasis on internal struggles and social issues. Thompson primarily uses paint and sculptural mediums.

About Ro2 Art

Ro2 Art is a contemporary fine art gallery with spaces in The Cedars Neighborhood and Downtown Dallas, representing a diverse group of emerging, mid-career, and established contemporary artists – many with ties to the North Texas Region. The gallery, founded in 2010 by mother-and-son partners Susan Roth Romans and Jordan Roth, regularly collaborates with organizations such as The MAC and Cedars Union, and maintains an exhibition program within the Magnolia Theatre at West Village and other satellite venues. Ro2 Art has been named Dallas Observer's Best Art Gallery and was presented with the 25th Annual Obelisk Award for small business by the North Texas Business Council for the Arts. The gallery’s art fair program has included the Dallas Art Fair, Texas Contemporary, and Art Aspen. More info: http://www.ro2art.com

All works will be on view December 12, 2020 – January 30, 2021. Please join us for the closing reception on Saturday, January 30, 12-5 PM at Ro2 Art, located at 1501 S Ervay St, Dallas TX 75215. For more information, visit www.Ro2art.com