John Guzman Artist Spotlight

NXTHVN alumnus John Guzman (Cohort 03) exemplifies NXTHVN ’s promise of premise in more ways than one. This painter from San Antonio was willing to take a risk, leaving his hometown and moving to New Haven for the Fellowship year (2021-2022), and ended up staying to live and work in the Central tower at NXTHVN, where he currently resides. Having caught the attention of gallerist Sean Kelly during his time at NXTHVN, Guzman’s work is now on view at Sean Kelly New York in a solo exhibition titled "Drowning in Harmony". It brings us great joy to reflect back on John’s time at NXTHVN, and to witness his progression as a professional artist. Be sure to visit Sean Kelly New York now through March 2, 2024 and check out the show. Details below.
About The Exhibition:
Sean Kelly Gallery presents John Guzman’s solo exhibition Drowning in Harmony. Guzman’s visceral artworks deconstruct the body to navigate the unpredictable, unusual, and at times, unbearable moments of life. Featuring a compelling series of new large and small oil paintings and works on paper, the exhibition delves into the complexities of the human experience.
Drowning in Harmony presents Guzman’s distinctive style and thought-provoking narrative to explore his unique visual language. His innovative approach to painting serves as a form of documentation, revealing the transformative nature of the body by reducing it to textured lines and muted colors. Drawing from lived experiences in the Southside of San Antonio, Texas, Guzman’s paintings abstract the human figure to reflect the unrecognizable transformations of the body resulting from stress. Guzman’s mastery of form, color, and conceptual depth is evident in this new series of works which demonstrate his ability to push artistic boundaries. The works on paper further highlight Guzman’s versatility, translating intricate concepts into a more intimate medium.
Positioning his figures within domestic architecture, Guzman intricately weaves links between the environment and its inhabitants. In his paintings, Guzman assembles distorted, tangled figures confined in cramped domestic spaces, creating a visual language for the condition of existence at the edge of survival. The exhibition creates a link between the environment and its inhabitants as Guzman explores space, style, subject matter, and line, addressing the fragility of the psyche and altered landscapes.
JOHN GUZMAN
Drowning In Harmony
Sean Kelly, New York
January 12 - March 2, 2024
#NXTHVN #johnguzmanstudio #seankellygallery #nxthvnalumni #5yearsatnxthvn

[@mayormc]

Excellent dynamic work. Really enjoyed this.

[@cocokombucha2408]

It’s giving global struggles

[@cindyoverall8139]

There are no words

[@suzannedesylva3805]

Very good video in all ways. Couldn't hear dialogue very well. Very quiet even at loudest volume. I think this work is worth more videos.

[@sublimeister9630]

The minimalist lines look better… of course, you can always a few touches of color like a Miro. 🙏🏼😊

[@johncastle3615]

The thing every artist should ask themself is ,does this actually mean anything to me and what exactly is that ,because if you can’t be specific ,your wasting your time .