Sam Belisle is a master who paints in parable. I was taught in high school that parable is the highest form of poetry. His works are exceptionally painted poetry invested with deeply felt narrative intent.
In his Newton Studio, Belisle explained most of his recent paintings lack a figure as he wants the viewer to wander through all the layers. His new paintings include detailed background landscapes or foreground floral imagery in high color to address the natural world around us as we converse in emojis and experience digital replacements. He pulls subjects from personal experience: a visit to his grandma in Sun City West, Arizona, volunteer tomatoes that grew near his Allston apartment trash can and with permission, a photo of two men on lunch break looking at a phone. He quotes graffiti which adds a respectful inclusive vibe.
Imagined foreground and background landscapes are framed by rectangular elements. As if creating a stage set, Belisle is documenting experience, how we see the world now through our phones, in saturated images on hi-res screens, where natural landscapes are replaced with framed imitations.