MICHAEL AJERMAN

‘Mermaid and Vampire (2017-18), on view from the Collection of Beth DeWoody, is almost humorous in its depiction of a mermaid lazing in a seductive manner on what appears to be a beach, as a vampire descends upon her from above, his arms outstretched to meet her, embrace her, or perhaps devour her. The two stares at each other, frozen mid action, locked in an energetic exchange.

Michael Ajerman’s (USA, b. 1977) oil paintings depict private moments of quiet domesticity. The artist’s still life and figurative fantasy vignettes employ a gestural style focused on color and brushwork. Frequently populated by subjects real and fictional, Ajerman’s paintings are both intimate and expressive, luscious, and unexpected. His paintings have a depth of color and a gestural nature that gives forma and life to the often-static bodies that populate his works. The figures are rendered in expressionistic ways with brushstrokes that are vibrant and markedly alive.