DICTATES | Jared Small

Small is a native Memphis artist celebrated for his hyper-realistic portrayals of people, flowers, and aging houses with intricate detail and thought-provoking themes.

Dictates, Small’s newest body of work comprises 16 pieces, 8 pairs of old, decaying houses, and a single flower or bouquet with paired each one.

These pieces explore the intangible layers of human experience, offering viewers a unique opportunity to engage with the realities of people and nature, while being transported to a dreamlike world.

Is there a significance to the title of the exhibition, Dictates?

I let the flower's colors dictate the colors of the houses. Show nature has all the beautiful combinations of color and how they can and do dictate beautiful things. - JS

With these art works, Small positions the viewer between the realities of the obvious image and the histories, memories, and possibilities that lie beneath the surface.

His liminal states between disappearance and reemergence speak to the puzzling ephemerality of historic homes and the beautiful blooms of the flowers.

There is a very interesting juxtaposition in your work.

The contrast of blooming vibrant life in the flowers and then decaying wood, and chipped paint on the houses is interesting. What is the reason for choosing these two subjects for this body of work? Are there any connections between the two that you hope viewers see?

Yes, very often I put flowers in these in and in these houses to show the the pride and the respect for these houses despite the dilapidated condition of the home. Often the houses can be occupied by people of many different backgrounds. But all can appreciate the beauty of the flowers, and what they mean to people. - JS

What would you like the viewers to take away from these depictions?

The goal is always to have that dream-like state. - JS

Is there an intention behind the color of each of these pieces?

Sitting behind a mostly gray background the colors add so much personality to each artwork, is this something you plan out before you begin to create, or does it come to you during the process?

I always plan the color out I often try to pick colors in the background the will highlight the subject and add adds to the narrative. - JS

Jared Small, born in Memphis in 1980, attended Overton High School and the University of Memphis. He's exhibited frequently across Tennessee, and the Huntsville Museum of Art recently produced a major solo exhibition of his work. .

His work is featured in the permanent collections of the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art and the Huntsville Museum of Art, Nashville's Music City Center, nexAir Headquarters, Memphis Renasant Convention Center, and numerous other public and private collections across the country.

DAVID LUSK GALLERY memphis | nashville davidluskgallery.com