Anthony Rianda: Hard In The Paint is the first solo exhibition by the artist, comprised of 11 new paintings on canvas, all 40 x 30 inches, including one diptych. The show is a culmination of works completed in the winter of 2018.

“The subjects are athletes, but that is not what is important to me. My knowledge of sports is in truth very limited. The colors and compositions are my main interest, as well as the texture of the surface. I attempted to take lessons from Matisse about how to break an image down and how to use color, while keeping in mind what I’ve learned from the expressionists about how to insert myself into the work. I want my paintings to look like paintings because I believe that is what they are best at doing and what they are supposed to do.”

“Growing up, I can always remember drawing and having an interest in art. I’m informed and influenced by a range of techniques and approaches including traditional Western painting, graffiti, outsider art, tattooing, pop art, and cartooning. I’m most interested in color and composition and my goal is to create a picture that can be appreciated universally regardless of age, location, time period, or familiarity with painting. It is also important for me to keep in mind and try to understand the history of painting and to figure out what purpose it has today.”

– Anthony Rianda