Anthony Patterson

Gifts from my Grandfather
January 3 – 25
Upfront Gallery

First Friday Gallery Walks:
Jan 3 | 6-10pm

Artist Talk
Jan 30 | 6p

Sponsored by Empire Properties

img courtesy of the artist

In Gifts From My Grandfather, artist Anthony Patterson shares important moments between him and his grandfather, Willie Patterson. The elder Patterson is regarded by many as a Civil Rights hero; he played a vital role in saving the Crest Street Community in Durham from destruction imposed by NC-147 during the 1970s.

Over the course of several weeks the Patterson men searched through family archives, studied the history of Crest Street and exchanged valuable wisdom and tools that Anthony began using in his art practice. Taking photos with the same Nikon EM his grandfather used, Anthony documented their research sessions.

Gifts From My Grandfather is a reflection of Anthony’s ongoing research about the Crest Street Community where he was born and raised.

Anthony Patterson received his BFA in Painting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In his senior year, Anthony was the recipient of the UNCG Artistic Merit Award which granted him his first solo exhibition “The Elephant In The Room”. Since then, he has shown in multiple group and solo exhibitions, as well as artist residencies across North Carolina. Patterson has also taught small classes, led workshops, participated in panel discussions and co-curated in partnership with The Black On Black Project.

Patterson’s work is rooted in figure painting, but his practice spans across multiple disciplines including installation, collage, storytelling and documentary photography. Quite often, figures are placed in tense, uncompromising situations that represent a struggle. In other works, handwritten notes, quotes, and poetry emerge through washes of paint. Intuitive mark making is evident on the surface while simultaneously personifying themselves within the narrative. His artistic influences range from painters to photographers such as Francisco Goya and Francis Bacon, to Gordon Parks and Eli Reed.

Recurring themes in his work include uncovering hidden or forgotten stories throughout history. His process involves pulling from historical archives, searching through contemporary media, and documenting moments in his community. Patterson aspires to create multi-layered work that investigates societal ills, while driving the conversation beyond the pictorial space.

Site-Specific Installation:
Tedd Anderson

Davie St Entrance

Tedd Anderson’s mural features the iconic “dry space” characters for which the artist is known set in a landscape filled with swirling, topographic lines, jagged edges, and meditative objects and shapes. A banner with a poem scrawled on its surface runs through the piece, bringing the imagery into a cohesive whole.