Miami Recap: Thrush Holmes at Pulse

Thrush Holmes’ practice navigates grandiose concepts of biography, introspection, and materiality. Through his unique and unapologetic methods (his use of offensively bright neon lights and toxic driveway sealant) he seeks to elevate still lives and reclining nudes to an almost cult-like and fetishistic status. In addition, Holmes’ vibrant and colorful paintings reveal eccentric florals and audacious female silhouettes set within illuminated prose almost bursting with energy and movement on the canvas. His work evokes an entirely new visual language, a hybrid heavily indebted to old traditions on one end but somehow liberated by new contemporary modes and traditions on the other. Holmes’ work can be found in permanent collections such as the Elton John Aids Foundation, Sony, Dreamworks, and Def Jam Records among others. Holmes’ work has been extensively exhibited in both Canada and the United States. He currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada.

THRUSH HOLMES (b.1979, Canada) Holmes’ previous solo exhibitions include Heavy Painting and More at the Mike Weiss Gallery, (New York, 2014) Break Room, at NEXT Lounge at the Toronto International Art Fair (2014), VOLTA NY courtesy of Mike Weiss Gallery, New York All Lit Up on Wine, (Mike Weiss Gallery, New York,2013) Flames Up(Angell Gallery, Toronto, Canada, 2013), Noiseless Moon (Angell Gallery, Toronto, 2012) Big Bad Motherfucker In Charge (Neubacher Shor, Toronto, 2010), New Luxe and Paintings; Some Good, Some So-So, (T.H.E, Toronto, 2010). Some of his earlier solo shows include Big Paintings, (T.H.E, Toronto, 2009) Every Million Golden Universe (T.H.E, Toronto, 2008), We Are All Images and MYTH ME (T.H.E, Toronto, Canada, 2007) and New Paintings, (Drabinsky Gallery, Toronto, 2006). He has also been part of a number of group exhibitions, most recently, I want that inside me by Feature Inc in New York. Holmes’ work has been critically acclaimed in articles in numerous publications including Whitehot, The Globe and Mail, Nuvo and #arte Fuse.