Michael Paul Miller

In Michael Paul Miller’s second solo show at the Laura Russo Gallery, he continues his exploration of the mesmerizing desolation and beauty of seemingly apocalyptic land and seascapes.  His exhibition, The Clouded Now, features large oil paintings in the tradition of grand historic tableaux, exploring visions of post apocalyptic settings of disaster and decay. A human presence is either hinted or explicit in these paintings, prompting questions about the plausibility of survival in such envisioned spaces.  As a counterpoint to his larger canvases, Miller also shows a series of small works in the Empire Series, portraying plumes of smoke in a diverse range of color, verging on a symphony of abstract forms.  Miller’s virtuosity with his oil medium contributes to a beautiful body of work that draws the viewer into ominous scenes of environmental or human caused destruction. He observes that his work “explores the sublimity of existence through an environment emblematic of death, disaster, and desolation, without abandoning subtle indications of hope and beauty. This deconstructive setting is a harrowing and plausible circumstance that allows for an open-ended inquiry into the bewildering human condition, and enables the subject matter to address an extensive range of contemporary issues.”  The painted results of his inquiry will captivate the viewer and likely raise more questions than they answer.