Ramsey Dau

Merging primitive patterns and mark-making with a modern, minimalist aesthetic, Ramsey Dau paints in a style that he calls “Future Primitivism.” Dau was initially inspired by a book from the 1960s about African sculpture; he began incorporating the cutout pages and black-and-white images into his paintings and collages. He originally pasted pages onto canvas, but now faithfully reproduces photographs by hand with paint. Marked by cropping and seemingly incomplete scenes, Dau juxtaposes spray painted lines and squares of color with Asian and African fertility totems and prayer figures. He seeks images that resonate with him on a subconscious level.

Courtesy of River Gallery