Kantor Gallery is pleased to present Jason Mason: Tools & Nails, opening Tuesday, February 11, 2020, with a reception from 5-8 PM hosted by LEADAPRON: 554 Huntley Drive, West Hollywood, CA 90048.

On his new body of work, Jason Mason stated: “My goal was to align this idea of the beauty of tools and what it would be like if you took a common household tool and imbued it with the mythical status of say the shield of Perseus.”

Jason Mason elevates the common tool, playing on photographer Walker Evans’ magazine work, Beauties of the Common Tool (FORTUNE, July 1955), wherein Walker took intimate close-ups of pliers and spanners. Although the highlights of Mason’s paintings appear to be the details and finishes of a literalist, his intention is to suggest a type of disconnect. There are ironic relationships between many of the backgrounds and the tools, representing a constant futility: you cannot sweep the sand dunes, nor saw the sky. The nails also allude to a core element of construction that is barely noticeable but so necessary it becomes a focal point in Mason’s work. His attention to detail serves to highlight the objects even more. Mason’s subjects surely carry our curiosity beyond the limits of each artwork.

Jason Mason was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1971. He currently lives and works in Los Angeles, California. Mason is a self-taught artist who has studied under Ed Ruscha for many years. The majority of Mason’s works are on paper and canvas and are executed in various mediums, but he predominantly paints in acrylic. His style of painting borders on Magical-Realism infused with elements of Surrealism. Mason has had recent exhibitions at The Lodge, Los Angeles, CA, The Hub Gallery, Los Angeles CA and DIY Gallery, Echo Park, CA.

Jason Mason: Tools & Nails is on view at LEADAPRON (554 Huntley Drive, West Hollywood, CA 90048) by appointment only from February 11 – 27, Wednesday through Saturday, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The exhibition’s preview is available upon request. For all inquiries and to schedule a viewing, please feel free to contact the gallery at [email protected].