Baker—Hall Gallery is thrilled to announce Collage City, a solo exhibition by artist and designer Jonathan Gonzalez. Debuting a new body of work, this series of paintings reflect Gonzalez’s ongoing exploration of architectural systems, urban mapping, and the intricate dynamics of spatial perception. The exhibition opens with a public reception on Saturday, February 22, from 6 to 9 PM, and will remain on view through March 22, 2025.
Within this body of work, Jonathan Gonzalez builds on the foundational theories of Figure/Ground relationships first articulated by Rudolf Arnheim and later championed by art historian and critic Colin Rowe. These theories, which examine the interplay between objects (figures) and the spaces they inhabit (ground), are at the heart of Gonzalez’s practice. In Collage City, Gonzalez translates these ideas into a series of dimensional wall works that hover slightly off the wall, registering as objects while retaining painterly qualities. These works borrow the logic and systems of urban mapping—fantasy cities, neighborhoods, and fragments—but leave space for intuition, transforming these frameworks into dynamic compositions.
The interrelated palette featured within this body of work reflects the artist and designer’s ongoing exploration that moves fluidly through his art, objects, design, and architectural investigations. Gonzalez’s pieces are extremely precise, yet within this precision and structural form, painterly gestures emerge, creating a dynamic interplay between control and spontaneity.
Through meticulously planned compositions, the works establish a reciprocal relationship with the surrounding environment. Each invites viewers to consider their own spatial orientation and physical presence, fostering an unfolding dialogue about space, time, light, and the interplay of forms. Echoing Colin Rowe’s vision of urban design as a collage of historical and modern elements, Gonzalez’s pieces juxtapose geometric abstraction with moments of playful irregularity, offering a contemporary reinterpretation of these seminal ideas.
Jonathan Gonzalez is an American artist and designer whose practice spans architecture, art, curation, and design. He founded his design and fabrication studio, Office GA, in 2015, following his architectural training at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. Gonzalez has worked with prestigious institutions, including the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami; Perez Art Museum Miami; The Menil Collection; DiverseWorks; DACRA; Design Miami; and Guccivuitton.
Baker—Hall is a contemporary art gallery founded by Amanda Baker—Hall in 2024. It is the successor to her previous project, Club Gallery. The gallery aims to promote emerging and mid-career artists through a fresh curatorial approach, while also offering comprehensive art advisory services. Baker—Hall specializes in painting and sculpture across narrative and non-objective styles, with a focus on collaborating with private collectors and prominent corporate institutions. The gallery boasts a robust exhibition schedule, featuring a minimum of eight rotating exhibitions each year.
Baker—Hall is a proud member of NADA.
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