Robert LaDuke "The Nearing Path" Solo Exhibition

Robert LaDuke

“The Nearing Path”

Robert LaDuke “The Nearing Path” solo exhibition Solo Exhibition: September 25 - October 1, 2020 Artist reception: September 25, 5 to 7pm on the cover: Shade 14x14 acrylic

225 Canyon Road Santa Fe, NM www.meyergalleries.com

Robert LaDuke’s narrative paintings are a combination of memories, dreams and everyday life.

Some of LaDuke’s most vivid memories are of traveling cross country in the family Cadillac with an Airstream trailing behind. Combined with these memories is a fascination with 1940’s era transportation and because of an inheritance of antique steel toys, it comes as no surprise that the same steel toys often appear as subject matter in many of LaDuke’s paintings. Based on American transportation in the 1930-40s, LaDuke’s acrylic paintings feature toys which were popular during that era. According to LaDuke, his work “is pretty much transportation oriented, trains, ships, cars, trailers, everything that rolls or floats and they always have that nostalgic 40s look to them.”

Since childhood, LaDuke can remember drawing old cars, especially those that were once in the Life magazine ads. He loved the bright colors and compared them to the colors of candy. They always seemed like “happy” colors to him and that is why he has chosen to use bright, fun colors in his own paintings.

One of LaDuke’s major influences is Norman Rockwell. Rockwell was known for his idyllic depictions of American life and although LaDuke is influences by the pre- and post-World War II era like Rockwell, LaDuke explores a deeper, darker side.

Antique toys are not the only interesting element in LaDuke’s paintings. Each panel seems to tell a story much like a comic book. LaDuke likes to make the viewer think that something is about to happen. Trains are speeding down the track, a car races to get away from the police, everything is in motion. “I enjoy creating narratives with multiple meanings in my work. I imagine that, a certain dark but humorous tone underlies my cartoon-like illustrative surfaces. Although realism often dominates my work visually, it is in fact merely providing a frame of reference to a metaphoric end.”

Commuter 15x15 acrylic

previous spread: detail of Commuter 15x15 acrylic

Shiprock 13x13 acrylic

Robert LaDuke’s narrative style paintings are idyllic reflections of American culture. Imagery associated with westward travel is reminiscent of earlier eras, focused around vintage vehicles and architecture from the 1930s to the 1950s.

Crop Circles 28x14 acrylic

Provisions 14x14 acrylic

Delivery 12x12 acrylic

Swarm 7x45 oil

Swarm 7x

x45 acrylic

Swarm 7

7x45 oil

In the Small Hours 15x15 acrylic

“I’ve developed interest in buildings that resemble the objects they sell or in some cases just objects”, says LaDuke. “Mimetic or novelty style architecture is what it’s called, such as a coffee cup shaped cafe, cowboy hat shaped store, a Zeppelin shaped restaurant, etc.”

Cowpoke Cafe 13x13 acrylic

Horse Power 10.5x12 acrylic

“Shade features a large solitary tree with two parked cars facing each other.

I like the idea of a shady tree as a meeting place. It’s an open-ended narrative in that it’s up to the viewer to decide who is doing the meeting or what type of meeting is taking place.”

-Robert LaDuke

Shade 14x14 acrylic

Melt 15x15 acrylic

Breakfast 11

1x47 acrylic

Lake House 15x15 acrylic

“Rocket Cafe features a streamlined era diner with a sci-fi theme. I like that it references the dream of space travel before it became a reality.�

-Robert LaDuke

Rocket Cafe 14x14 acrylic

Rodeo 15x15 acrylic

Robert LaDuke’s narrative style paintings are idyllic reflections of American culture. Imagery associated with westward travel is reminiscent of earlier eras, focused around vintage vehicles and architecture from the 1930s to the 1950s.

Largely devoid of actual figures, LaDuke’s central subject matter includes cars, campers, planes or trains, set against iconic natural landmarks or roadside industry.

Dragonfly 13x10 acrylic

Riviera 30x30 acrylic

following spread: detail of Riviera 30x30 acrylic

Robert LaDuke

“The Nearing Path”

Breakfast 11x47 $8,500 Commuter 15x15 $4,000 Cowpoke Cafe 13x13 $3,000 Crop Circles 28x14 $7,200

Delivery 12x12 $2,600 Dragonfly 13x10 $2,600 Horse Power 10.5x12 $2,100 In the Small Hours 15x15 $4,000 Lake House 15x15 $4,000 Melt 15x15 $4,000 Provisions 14x14 $3,500 Riviera 30x30 $14,300 Rocket Cafe 14x14 $3,200 Rodeo 15x15 $4,000 Shade 14x14 $3,500 Shiprock 13x13 $3,000 Swarm 7x45 $5,600

225 Canyon Road Santa Fe, NM www.meyergalleries.com