Arcadia Contemporary is proud to present "Se
Préparer," the debut solo exhibition from Montana-based
painter Richie Carter. The exhibition will open with a reception on
Thursday, May 9th from 6pm to 8pm. Se Préparer will feature 22
new oil paintings, a visual survey of Carter's memories and
experiences from his travel throughout Paris over the last six years.
In this new body of work, each painting serves
as a chapter in a larger narrative that Carter constructs
through his repeated engagements with the city of Paris, particularly a
Parisian vista located in Montmartre (XVIII Arrondissement). While the works
may conjure themes of voyeurism, Carter asserts, "These
paintings are very autobiographical; if arranged in a certain sequence, they
would tell a very personal series of stories about memory, grief, and
transformation. Furthermore, the exhibition is not just a presentation of
landscapes but an exploration of universal experiences."
Carter's love of Europe began in 2003. Enamored by its history,
architecture, and multiculturalism, this fascination led him, like many artists
of the past including John Singer Sargent and James McNeill Whistler, to study
abroad. From 2009-2010, Carter lived and worked in Northern
France at the Université de Picardie Jules Verne in Amiens and found his muse
in France. Currently living and working in Montana, Carter relies
on his plein air studies, memories, and sketches to create his paintings. This
process results in a tonal aesthetic reminiscent of painter and writer Russell
Chatham (1939-2019), another Montana native who has inspired Carter's work.
The title of the exhibition, "Se
Préparer" (its English translation is "To Prepare
Oneself"), is fitting as frequenting the same place and city helped to
prepare him for the creation of this body of work. The painting titled “We Always
Do,” a reference to musician Ray LaMontagne’s lyrics, holds a special nostalgia
for Carter: "It evokes a sense of melancholy and at the same
time hope, a reliquary of the transformation of pain into beauty." This
painting and several other works center around the apartment that has become a
special sanctuary for Carter. This location offers a unique vantage
point over the city, combining the historical depth of Paris with the intimate
moments of daily life visible through the windows and on the rooftops.
Richie Carter (b.1988) was raised just outside
of Kalispell, Montana, and received a BFA from The University of Montana. "Se
Préparer," his debut exhibition with Arcadia Contemporary,
will be on view from May 9-26, 2024. An opening reception will be held on
Thursday, May 9th, 2024, from 6-8 pm, which is open to the public.