Ethan Cohen Gallery is pleased to announce the exhibition NEXUS 2.0.1: Contemporary Landscape Paintings by Paul Paiement. This latest installment in Paiement’s distinguished career showcases his Nexus series, which represents his second major collection of work over a span exceeding three decades. Similar to his previous Hybrids series, the Nexus collection delves into the intricate relationship between humanity and the natural environment. This series stands out by blending the structured, logical, mathematical, and technological constructs of human innovation with the boundless, infinite, and holistic qualities of the natural world. The exhibition will present fifteen of Paiement’s most recent medium to large-scale paintings from the Nexus series.
Paiement’s meticulously crafted landscape paintings are characterized by the interruption of architectural forms. In some instances, the inherent beauty of nature is encapsulated within the contours of a modern residence. In others, the serene landscapes are overshadowed by the presence of skyscrapers and industrial zones, depicted as ethereal plexiglass overlays. Through this approach, Paiement challenges the prevalent belief that human activity is solely destructive to the environment. His work prompts viewers to acknowledge the continuous expansion of the global population into previously unoccupied territories. Moreover, it underscores the fact that every fragment of our planet is now meticulously mapped and charted. Importantly, Paiement refrains from casting judgment; he employs the same meticulous brushwork and attention to detail when rendering architectural forms as he does when depicting the landscape. This suggests a view of humans as creators, integral to the ongoing process of evolution.
Paiement’s artworks are part of several esteemed permanent collections, including those of JP Morgan Chase, Brenau University, the Lancaster Museum of Art and History, International Arts and Artists, Kaufman and Broad Homes, Wellington Management Company, and the Hechinger Collection. His work has been widely published and featured in numerous reputable publications and media outlets, such as Art in America, Artillery Magazine, White Hot Magazine, New American Paintings, ARTnews, Artscene, Artforum, Art and Cake Magazine, the Huffington Post, Artweek, the Los Angeles Times, New Art Examiner, and Los Angeles Magazine. Paul Paiement holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. He currently serves as a tenured professor in the Art Department at Cypress College in Orange County, California, and resides and works in Long Beach, California.
