Jamie Townsend artwork featured at NYC gallery

Springfield artist Jamie Townsend’s artwork will be featured at the New York City Agora Gallery in Chelsea from Friday, July 31 to Thursday, Aug. 20. The exhibit, Idiosyncratic Expressions, features the works of eight artists who, according to the gallery, offer “themes from the past, present, and future in an exhibition of nostalgia and re-imagination. From the pastoral to pop culture, the scenes in this exhibition vibrate with an exciting new energy.” An opening reception will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6.

The works of artist Jamie Townsend of Springfield is featured in a new exhibit in a gallery in the Chelsea section of New York City. Telegraph photo.

Townsend’s paintings are a dense network of shapes and forms that come together in pictures that are inspired by Abstract Expressionism and Cubism, but take that inspiration to another level.  In a profile of Townsend and his work in March 2013, The Chester Telegraph wrote about his sometimes monumental public works, many of which depict farming scenes and animals, that are on display at Erskine’s Feed and Grain and Jersey Girl Farm Store in Chester as well as in downtown Springfield.

The Agora Gallery cites Townsend’s using the language of abstraction to construct a world with a strong physical presence. Working in oils and making effective use of a palette of rich, opaque colors, Townsend gives each element of his pictures life and motion, using separate blocks of tone to create surprisingly realistic effects of light, shadow and depth.

While his images teem with objects and activity, the artist’s sense of line and composition ensures that each painting has an underlying harmony and clarity.  “As I paint,” he says, “my work unfolds into a story.” By telling those stories, the artist initiates a challenging and rewarding conversation with his viewers.

Other artists in show are Tony Stockman, Josyane Roduit-Gaudin, Paola Estrella, Vicky Talwar, Nico Solis, Hilda Kleyn and Katie Hartley

Agora Gallery is located at 530 W. 25th St. in Chelsea in New York City. It is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.