“Fragments” marks a rare collaborative exhibition from artists and longtime friends Kevin Paulsen and David Wiggins. Rooted in the rich history of early American itinerant painters, this curated show expands on traditional folk art in a distinctly timeless manner.
The Inspiration
Paulsen and Wiggins first met on Nantucket in the early 1990s, bonding over historic preservation and classical decorative painting. The concept for “Fragments” was sparked when they encountered antique horsehair-plaster murals salvaged from early American homes.
Seeking to capture that same weathered, tactile beauty, they developed a technique using lightweight plaster to convincingly replicate the look of broken, historic walls. By intentionally cracking and wearing the materials, they embrace the beauty of accident and process, bringing an authentic, aged quality to the surface.
A Collaborative Dialogue
Rather than acting as strict copyists of early Americana, Paulsen and Wiggins bring a fluid, abstract approach to their work. The two artists paint side by side in the studio, layering backgrounds, responding to one another’s marks and riffing together much like musicians in a session.
This informal, highly collaborative process means the narratives within the paintings are often discovered as they work, resulting in pieces that are classical in imagery but remarkably free and informal in their execution.
The Collection
The exhibition will feature an exclusive collection of eight to 10 monumental pieces, ranging from 4 to 8 feet in scale (48 by 60 inches to 48 by 96 inches).
Each “fragment” is presented in a shadow box frame with a delicate gold line, arriving fully prepared to anchor a sophisticated interior.
Michael Mitchell will exhibit the collection through the end of November.