CODA GALLERY PRESENTS
JAMIE PERRY:  NEW PAINTINGS
FEBRUARY 7 – 28, 2020
OPENING RECEPTION: FEB 7, 5-8 PM

PALM DESERT, CA — CODA Gallery presents a new exhibition of paintings by Jamie Perry, running Feb. 7-28. An opening reception, attended by the artist, will be held 5-8 p.m. on Feb. 7 in conjunction with El Paseo Art Walk/Palm Desert First Weekend.

If you sense a bit of Edward Hopper in Jamie’s figurative paintings or a bit of Maynard Dixon in one of his landscapes, you’ve identified two of his inspirations in terms of style. In terms of subject matter, the native Southern Californian finds daily motivation from “being observational.” “I like to take an otherwise common scene or image and create a painting that can have humorous undertones or be thought-provoking,” he says.

Though he grew up in Claremont, Midwest settings (e.g., a lone farmhouse on flat land) appeal to his minimalist aesthetic. At the same time, he attributes his love for symbols of the American dream and lifestyle to “growing up in Southern California where there’s so much opportunity.”

Jamie further explains why people in his paintings are “faceless,” where the viewer stands behind or above the subject, and why the men typically wear suits and hats and sometimes hold an open umbrella. “I want to leave it up to the viewer to interpret who the person is. It adds an air of mystery,” he says. “And I like ’40s and ’50s attire, so a lot of my paintings have a retro theme, even though they might show a modern setting.” Another recurrent element in his work is his French bulldog, Ace.

CODA Gallery opened on El Paseo in 1987 and offers a thoughtfully-curated collection of work by emerging, mid-career, and established artists. Located at 73400 El Paseo in Palm Desert, the gallery is open Monday through Saturday, 10-6; and Sunday, 11-5.

For more information, call 760-346-4661 and/or visit www.codagallery.com. For more information on El Paseo Art Walk, visit www.discoverpalmdesert.com/el-paseo-artwalk. For more information on Palm Desert First Weekend, visit www.discoverpalmdesert.com/first-weekend.