Img_

'Michael Staniak: IMG_' comprises paintings from four recent bodies of work: IMG_, Internet Blueprint, DATA, and PNG_Binary Code, the first two of which begin with the artist creating a three-dimensional textured relief. Staniak's IMG_ paintings use fluorescent pigments and holographic gradients to challenge the expectation of flatness, exuding a layered, sculptural quality. Undulations and indentations captured in the plaster's surface suggest ripples in water or sound waves. The Internet Blueprint series isolates a specific hue of blue popular on the Web, particularly on the social media networks Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. In the visual code of the Internet, this ubiquitous color signifies an empty field waiting for uploaded content or the potential for social connectivity. Exhibition: Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis, United States (01.05.-28.07.2015).