April 28 – May 3
Reception: Friday, May 2, 5-8pm
Location: Art Lofts Gallery, 111 N Frances St, Madison, WI
My work is based in the human figure and explores psychological states, human nature, and the overlap of physical and spiritual realms. With playful color choices and a wry sense of humor, I develop characters that range from loosely referential self portraits to figures that more universally represent the human condition to enigmatic spiritual beings. These characters meander between the banal and the magical, the physical and the spiritual, and between representation and abstraction.
The title Partial Presence can be interpreted in a number of ways. Presence can refer to the common collective effort to be mentally present in a digital age, but it can also refer to a presence, or unseen entity. Partial could refer to the fact that we are often not fully present, or to the fact that the spiritual realm sometimes seeps into the physical realm and is not fully visible, rather it is felt or perceived.
The Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibitions season continues with David Raleigh’s exhibit Partial Presence. The MFA Thesis Exhibitions mark the culmination of a three-year degree program that emphasizes development of a rigorous studio art practice under the supervision of a faculty guidance committee. Exploring an interdisciplinary approach to art making, as well as coursework in art history and related fields, artists cultivate professional practices that facilitate a sustainable career in the arts. Join us in celebrating our Class of 2025 UW-Madison Graduate professionals!