TJ Griffin: lucid
March 26 - April 30, 2022
Press Release
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Ro2 Art is proud to present TJ Griffin: Lucid. The show will run from March 26 through April 30, 2022, with an opening reception held at Ro2 Art in The Cedars, located at 1501 S. Ervay St, Dallas, TX, 75215 from 7-10PM.
For the exhibition, Lucid, TJ Griffin explores the world of the unconscious mind. The artist revisits scenes from lucid dreams via the visualization of a maze. TJ takes a modern approach to dream interpretation by using geometric abstraction in a way that forms a literal map, leading viewers through his unconsciousness. Using high chroma, complementary colors this body of work makes for unsettling color combinations that seem only possible in the dream realm. Using small objects as markers make for a relief sculptural quality to the paintings. As the scenes and choices of Griffin’s lucid dreams are examined it becomes clear that these paths to memory become key symbols for the overwhelming flow of information that is now a part of modern life. |
artist statement
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My current work is a meditation in becoming more lucid within life and my dreams. The modern world is a constant bombardment of information. It has become difficult to distinguish what is and is not real. As I create I work to make sense of the constant flow of ideas drifting through my consciousness. I believe dreams give us a window into our unconscious mind. I make an effort to become lucid while sleeping. I write down my dreams and do my best to create something tangible based on those memories. I make mazes or maps that theoretically lead back to those moments and places. Like a mindmap guiding me back to the memory.
Through this practice I have become more aware and clear, becoming more lucid in my dreams and awake experience. My artwork is a dance between conscious and unconscious mind. I try not to limit my declaration of these ideas. I paint with expression and draw with precision, side by side. I brainstorm what I am creating directly on the artwork itself. Some pieces become a snapshot of an idea or feeling rather than an exact experience. Others become impressionist representations of specific dreams and memories. Together they become a glimpse into my mind. |
about the artist
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Originally from the small town of Union City Oklahoma, T.J. Griffin moved to the Dallas area in 2004. His work has been shown since 2007. In 2008 he received the DeGolyer Awards to Artists grant from the Dallas Museum of Art. T.J. graduated with his Bachelor in Art and Performance from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2008 and continued on to receive his MFA in 2010. T.J. had his first solo show in 2010 at the University of Texas at Dallas. While working on his PhD in Aesthetic Studies at The University of Texas Dallas, he has begun doing research on identity, superheroes, and masks. He has been accepted into numerous juried shows, including The Rising Eyes of Texas in Rockport, Texas, where he received the second place award. In 2011, his work was accepted into the juried art expo at 500x gallery in Dallas, Texas and the annual No Dead Artists exhibit, a national juried show at Jonathan Ferrara Gallery in New Orleans, LA. His work was featured in three group shows with Ro2 Art in 2011.
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