Unexpected Occurrences

Songlines, 2026, mixed media on linen,  36 x 41 in

My work is an exercise in excavation. Using a mix of fabric, photography, and paint, I build "orchestrated histories" where layers are constantly being buried and unearthed. I am drawn to the gaps and slippages—the moments where colors fall out of register or elements fail to align. While some might call these imperfections, I view them as vital evidence of a living process.

These paintings do not offer finite resolutions; instead, they function as puzzles of possibility. By prioritizing the act of "finding" over "knowing," I invite the viewer to navigate tangled pathways of representation and abstraction. For me, the canvas is a site of constant retooling and risk, where the goal is not to protect a successful image, but to discover a new platform for research.

In its broadest sense, my practice is an investigation into the act of making—a constant discovery of what form and material can become. I view my paintings as a living lineage; each work engages in a dialogue with the last, providing the groundwork for the next. These connections are not always linear; they often travel down tangled pathways that reveal their logic only in retrospect. By embracing the risk of the unknown, I aim to demonstrate the inherent agility of painting and its endless capacity for expansion.

Warren Rosser 2026