The human figure is the central concern of Western art—not the only concern, just the central one. For artists who use the figure, there is a substantial advantage that artists whose concerns are mainly non-objective do not have. There is no other subject matter that carries the expressive potential of the human figure (none, absolutely). This advantage is offset, however, by the fact that while viewers don’t demand verisimilitude, they will not tolerate much in the way of expressive ineptitude. The difference between expressing insight into the human condition and portraying someone with a case of indigestion may lie in a single stroke (yes, one stroke) or mishandled gesture. If the artist doesn’t get these things right, the whole work collapses expressively like a deflating balloon.

Marsha Burns, Kim Frohsin, Phillip Levine, Ed Musante, Robert Schultz, Stephen Schultz, Romey Stuckart, Jordan Wolfson

Ed Musante is shown courtesy of Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
Robert Schultz is shown courtesy of Koplin Del Rio Gallery, Los Angeles, CA