At a time rife with division, rock stars represent rare points of unification. Consider the historic aura encircling the likes of James Brown, David Bowie and Debbie Harry. No matter how disparate and distanced their fans may be from each other, their voices spark a shared experience of delight and devotion.
In his latest body of paintings, David Frederick Riley harnesses the heroism of rock n’ roll stars through emphatic paintings. More than portraits, his canvases capture the charismatic presence of each musician, whether it be the striking stare of Jim Morrison or the immersive instrumentalization of Jimi Hendrix. “I try to present the thing about them that transcends their likeness,” Riley says. “I try to interpret the music through technique by using looser brushstrokes, more paint splatters, and visual cues that relate to the song or the artist.”
