Encounters – Jared Small: Southern Moments in Time

Encounters: Jared Small focuses on the accomplished paintings of this emerging Memphis artist. Small’s paintings on panel and vellum often feature flowers floating in ethereal  spaces and Southern homes existing in ambiguity. Essentially self-taught, Small’s ability to detail exactly what he sees is one of his greatest talents. He describes his practice as, “…trying to accomplish a dreamlike state. I’m imagining other people’s memories — fading, but still there.” Small harnesses a style similar to magical realism, with the center of each painting focused on a painstakingly accurate image while the background dissolves into abstract elements. This technique allows the artist to hypnotize the viewer into a dream-like state, caught between the realities of the obvious and the mysteries that seem to exist beneath the surface.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website