“Broaden is a Detroit-based artist whose paintings distill a soft essence and highlight the importance of love and beauty within the Black community, as well as nostalgic events in the Black experience. At the heart of Broaden’s practice is a celebration: of his love for painting, of his ability to create freely, of the greater sense of self that comes with age. Broaden’s works are culled from a mix of imagination, memory and photo references, and with this approach towards his figures’ postures, he alludes to the value society attaches to birthdays as moments to cherish for a lifetime, and therefore our tendency to surpassingly document and memorialize these occasions.”
Scale plays a significant role in the joy that comes through in this picture. The vivid color of the game contrasts with all four boys wearing deeply shaded white T-shirts. A cheerful blue sky with stylized puffy clouds provides the backdrop to a fun summer day.
Again, Broaden uses a game to frame the composition in strong, bold color. He captures an orchestrated pose where one participant is less amenable than the others side-eyeing the viewer while sipping her drink.
Broaden positions the scene’s vibrant color in an impressionistic background showcasing the smoother brushwork of the figures. Particular attention to folds in the fabrics and punctuated shading are hallmarks of this painter’s style and contribute to the presentation of idyllic moments in a person’s life.
“Commemorating the act of growing older, Broaden considers the cyclical nature of existence and importance of cherishing each moment. In an expression of gratitude, he explains how “[he] wanted to create a body of work that authentically merges history and the present time with the significance of celebrating life, and [promotes] the idea that the people around us are what makes life worth living.”
On view through September 6th at Louis Buhl & Co 1260 Library Street (Alley) Detroit
*images courtesy of the gallery then edited by me
direct quote from gallery materials
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