Alex Lilly: World Conflagration

Extended Thru February 11

Burned Shops, Aleppo, oil on canvas, 16 1/2" x 20 1/2"

Alex Lilly is an artist who works in real time, in response to current world events. Lilly graduated from PNCA in 1996 with a degree in printmaking, and developed a mentoring relationship with Gordon Gilkey, who was a great print collector and artist, founding the Gilkey Center for Graphic Arts at the Portland Art Museum. Lilly began painting in 2001 in response to the events of 9/11, wanting to memorialize the people and the history of the moment. He has exhibited his work extensively since that time, and is represented in the collections of the Portland Art Museum, and the Library of Congress, Washington, DC. We truly appreciate Lilly's dedication to art making and his hard work. Given the ongoing political turmoil and upheaval present in our world today, we think this is an appropriate time to present Alex Lilly's fine, compelling work.

You can watch Alex at work drawing in downtown Portland, amid the chaos and turmoil, as the protesters stream by in the video below.

ISIS Burns Oil Wells, Mosul Iraq, 2016,

acrylic, oil, ink, iodine, and La Brea Tar stains on canvas, 18 1/2" x 24 1/2"

Artist Talk at 2:00pm: Saturday, February 11, Reception from 1:30-3:00pm

Show Opening Reception: Saturday, January 7, 1:30-3:00pm

Bombed Hospital, oil on canvas, 16 1/2" x 20 1/2"

The show also includes a beautiful grouping of Lilly's print making, primarily done in drypoint & etching. These tend to be smaller in scale and more intimate, often presenting scenes from around the Northwest such as Mt. Hood, the Museum Art School, Mt. St. Helens, Crown Point, and Old Town Portland.

Alex Lilly's Vitae

Portland Bluffs #1, Drypoint Etching, 3" x 4"

Our show for January 2017, "World Conflagration," features a variety of work by contemporary artist Alex Lilly.

The show includes many powerful works in oil, which speak to recent world events, as well as a selection of drawings which Lilly made live and onsite, during the recent Portland protests.

Old Town, Drypoint Etching, 3" x 4 1/4"

Mt Hood, Etching, 3" x 3 3/4"