John Grande

John Grande's figurative oil paintings have always been influenced by photographs. Like other artists of his generation, Grande has used photographic images from the media and pop culture - proliferated by television, film, print, and the internet- as the mainstay of his source material. Juxtaposing documentary news footage with fashion advertisements or creating composite images of war and disaster with glamorous models as the characters in his works, Grande is constantly searching for images that investigate the values and priorities of our times. Mannequins from 5th Avenue windows appear in his work, usually surrounded by flames or calamity, as do old master paintings re-examined in the context of consumerism and current events. Given his background working in a professional photo lab and his propensity for high fashion archetypal gender narratives, it is no wonder that he has chosen to revisit these iconic images by Cindy Sherman. Enigmas of sexual culture and stereotypes have always been a fascination for Grande, the investigation of the dichotomy between art and fashion being foremost among his concerns. Therefore, the artist "who loved to play dress up" was a perfect fit for Grande, and the challenge for the viewer is in trying to decipher how the meaning and relevance of these images has changed from when they were first produced to the contemporary moment in which they are now being judged. 

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