Space Gallery is pleased to present our annual figurative exhibition featuring the work of emerging artist Julia Sanders and internationally recognized artist William Stoehr. Blurring the lines between realism and abstraction, both artists rely on the viewer’s subjective participation to deepen the reality beyond the mere image.

Sanders highlights the struggle separating the self and contemporary culture. To her, “morphogenesis refers to the innate desire for entity and environment to become one,” which can be seen in the swirling and twisting of her paint brush. Challenging the static historical portrayal of the female figure, Sanders also explores themes of fertility and dissolution, both visually and metaphorically as her figures simultaneously dissolve and take shape.

Stoehr’s artwork also focuses on the human condition. The essence of his art is the exploration of fundamental issues of our time. He explores intolerance, discrimination, addiction, violence and war with its victims, witnesses and survivors. While Sanders mingles figure with background, Stoehr isolates his figures for the viewer to subjectively respond to. Both artists work freely; dripping, brushing and pouring paint. To this Stoehr adds touches and hints of realism. He often paints facial features slightly out of alignment or paints vaguely different expressions for each side of the face. These variations might make his images appear more real as time, half remembered memories, and prior experiences affect your perception.