April 29–May 27, 2023
Los Angeles
Steve Turner is pleased to present Inside Out, a solo exhibition by Los Angeles-based Robert Pokorny that features new portrait paintings depicting his recurring stylized characters –– Bearded men and confident white-haired women –– engaged in everyday activities such as reading a book, eating an ice cream cone, drinking a cup of coffee or smoking a joint. He simplifies the composition with strong lines, striking color, repeated marks and patterns to suggest various emotional states. According to the artist, “These portraits are not meant to depict one person in particular but rather are pictures of us all. They allow me to engage with great painters of the past, to tap into my own emotions, and to relate them to the outer world. They might seem absurd or humorous, but they are always sincere.”
Robert Pokorny (born 1969, Merced, California) earned a BA (1992) and MFA (2011) at California State University, Long Beach and has presented his work in numerous exhibitions since 2006. Most recently, he has had solo gallery exhibitions at Johansson Projects, Oakland (2021) and Ampersand, Portland (2020). He has also had solo presentations at art fairs including Expo Chicago (2022) and CAN Art Fair, Ibiza (2022). Pokorny has been featured in Amadeus Magazine, Art Maze Magazine, Arte Al’ Limite, Cool Hunting, Juxtapoz, Maps, Sound & Vision Podcast and Voyage LA. This is Pokorny’s debut exhibition with Steve Turner.
Born 1969, Merced, California
Lives and works in Los Angeles
Education
2011
MFA, California State University, Long Beach
Solo Exhibitions
2023
Inside Out, Steve Turner, Los Angeles
2022
CAN Art Fair, Ibiza (with Johansson Projects)
Expo Chicago (with Johansson Projects)
2021
Thinking, Staring & Smoking, Johansson Projects, Oakland
2020
Modern Guilt & Blue Skies, Ampersand Gallery, Portland
2019
Dialogue, Ampersand Gallery, Portland
2015
Primitives, AUREUS Contemporary, SCOPE Miami
2010
SATURATION, Max L. Gatov Gallery, Long Beach
2008
Select New Works, Thinkspace, Los Angeles
Transitions, M Modern Gallery, Palm Springs
2007
The Red Zone, Alpha Cult, Long Beach
Group Exhibitions
2021
Untitled Art, Miami (Johansson Projects)
It’s Smaller Than I Thought, Safe and Sound Gallery, Burlington, Vermont
Left Coast Connection, Ringling College of Art + Design, Englewood, Florida
2020
Summer Spectacular, Hey There Projects, Joshua Tree
Within the Distance, Johansson Projects, Oakland
2018
Derivations, Art on Paper, Aureus Contemporary, New York
2017
Land Purchase, Ampersand Gallery, Portland
Derivations/Formations, SCOPE, Aureus Contemporary, Miami
Primitives/Derivations, SCOPE, Aureus Contemporary, Basel, Switzerland
Thanks For Sharing – The Art of Instant, Global Inspiration, Port Townsend, Washington Derivations/Formations/Primitives, Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, Aureus Contemporary, Miami
2016
Derivations/Formations, SCOPE, Aureus Contemporary, Miami
Primitives, Art Copenhagen, Aureus Contemporary, Copenhagen
Primitives, ArtSouthampton, Aureus Contemporary, Bridgehampton, New York Primitives/Derivations, SCOPE, Aureus Contemporary, Basel Primitives/Derivations, ARTNY, Aureus Contemporary, New York Primitives/Derivations, Art Wynwood, Aureus Contemporary, Miami
2015
Primitives, SCOPE, Aureus Contemporary, Miami Derivations/Formations, Aqua Art Fair, Aureus Contemporary, Miami Primitives, Texas Contemporary, Aureus Contemporary, Houston Primitives, Art Fair Cologne (with Aureus Contemporary)
Primitives, ArtSouthampton, Aureus Contemporary, Bridgehampton
Primitives, ArtMiami NY, Aureus Contemporary, New York
Formations, Off Course Art Fair, Brussels (with Aureus Contemporary)
2014
Derivations/Formations, SCOPE, Aureus Contemporary, Miami
2013
Five Year Anniversary Exhibition, Phone Booth Gallery, Long Beach
2012
Palos Verdes Art Center All-Media Juried Exhibition, Rolling Hills Estates
2011
2CC 10th Anniversary Celebrating a Decade of Art, 2nd City Council Art Gallery, Long Beach
2010
Insights 2010, California State University Art Museum, Long Beach
2009
Movers & Shakers, POVevolving Los Angeles
2008
Looking Glass, Thinkspace Gen Art Vanguard, Miami
Abstraction Distraction, M Modern Gallery, Palm Springs
Jump Start, Applegate Gallery, Santa Monica
2007
The Summer Show, Applegate Gallery, Santa Monica
2006
Everything but the Kitschen Sync, La Luz De Jesus, Los Angeles
The Graphic Noise Show, Museum of Design, Atlanta
Awards
2012
Palos Verdes Art Center Board of Trustees Award
2011
Beverly G. Alpay Award for Working Visual Artists
Windes & McClaughry Corporate Gallery Award
2CC 10th Anniversary Celebrating a Decade of Art 1st Place
2010
G.E.S.S. Scholarship CSULB
Dean’s Purchase Award CSULB
2009
Joy of Life Scholarship CSULB
2008
Richard and Johanna Baker Scholarship CSULB
Bibliography
2021
“Thinking, Staring & Smoking: An Interview with Robert Pokorny,” Juxtapoz, July 31
