Carl Berg Gallery is pleased to present new paintings by Joshua Aster is his first solo exhibition at the gallery. Aster continues his exploration of the mark reminiscent of his works from his previous exhibition at the gallery titled “Fractal.” In that show he featured 24 small canvases whose subtle character were formed through various repeated marks of different sizes and shapes. In makeBelieve (solo show) Aster will feature larger paintings ranging in size from 30 x 30 inches to 60 x 144 inches. The paintings are still subtle in their nuance but his repeated marks, now formed around the shape of the square, are visually much more impactful even confronting the viewer by their presence.

Aster, a recent graduate of the MFA program at UCLA, has developed a language of abstraction based on this simple mark (square). Although the square is simple in form Aster’s various methods of application, composition and color create incredibly dense and complex works. Through his various methods of mark making Aster has produced works that range from the atmospheric to the tactile. Some works pull you in while others push outward into the viewer’s space.

His works are experiential in nature, inviting the viewer into a world that exists of pixels generated by the artist’s own hand. Aster’s paintings use the same base square found in every digital image but instead of trying to mimic nature through various algorithmic patterns, Aster relies on his own rhythm to create his work.