LOIS LAMBERT GALLERY
MARTIN BRUINSMA: Dignity of Silence
July 15 - September 2, 2023
Opening Reception: Saturday, July 15, 6-9PM
Martin Bruinsma, Red Chair, acrylic on canvas, 60” x 48”
Lois Lambert Gallery presents Dignity of Silence, the most recent exhibition of paintings by Martin Bruinsma.
Bruinsma begins by observing and photographing various locations at night, searching for scenes with vacant space and dramatic contrast between light and shadow. There is a kind of peace Bruinsma finds in the stillness and silence of these places, painting them to “preserve a moment in time as it is, and as it will be.”
Bruinsma’s signature style draws inspiration from classic film noir. He applies this vision to contemporary settings. Working with both acrylic and oil, Bruinsma layers thin washes of paint and allows light to come through specific areas of the canvas. “Through my work in Dignity of Silence, I explore the tension and intrigue that lies within the interplay of light and shadow. It is in the darkness that secrets are revealed, emotions emerge, and stories unfold. I invite viewers to immerse themselves in the atmospheric world I have created and to discover the hidden narratives within.”
In Bruinsma’s paintings, the viewer is treated as an outsider looking in on a moment, in which they are the only witness. Each environment is intentionally left vacant and static, so that viewers may be compelled to fill in the blanks with stories and emotions hidden within seemingly ordinary surroundings.
Martin Bruinsma received his B.F.A. in Illustration from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. He is a member of the Society of Illustrators and the Association of Medical Illustrators. Bruinsma’s work is part of private and public collections throughout California.
Lois Lambert Gallery, Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan Ave., #E3, Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 829-6990 | info@loislambertgallery.com
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00am - 6:00pm