Shifting Veils

Uprise Art is pleased to present Shifting Veils, an exhibition featuring Langdon Graves, Lucía Rodríguez Pérez, Nefertiti Jenkins, and Roche.

Rodríguez Pérez’s paintings conjure deserted spaces where nature reclaims its dominion, with sprawling botanical tendrils weaving through and disrupting rigid architectural motifs. Her masterful use of oil paint creates atmospheric veils of color, shrouding these scenes in an otherworldly allure. This interplay of sensuality and secrecy invites viewers to peer into realms that are both seductive and unsettling. Through her work, Rodríguez Pérez evokes a poignant tension - a dialogue between yearning and the persistent elusiveness of what lies just beyond reach. 

Graves’ oracle deck, Home Circle, draws from the ghost stories her grandmother shared with her as a child, weaving together the intimate and the uncanny. Each card portrays scenes of familiar, domestic imagery - at once universally recognizable yet distinctly personal, and evoking a sense of nostalgia intertwined with mystery. These cards serve as vessels for stories of the past, offering insights that resonate in the present and ripple into the future, underscoring the power of storytelling to heal and connect. Accompanying the deck is a set of polymer sculptures that extend the world of Home Circle into three dimensions. These tactile works echo the cards’ imagery, enshrining the ethereal narratives in physical form. Together, the oracle deck and sculptures create a harmonious dialogue, exploring the interchange between memory, materiality, and meaning.

From spectral echoes and mythic journeys, to reclaimed landscapes and meditative forms, the exhibition explores narratives that challenge perception and invite reflection.

Inspired by the hero's journey in video games and the broader symbolism of the fantasy genre, Jenkin's oil paintings investigate themes of fate, the struggle for control, and the commencement of transformative journeys. Her works depict knights, forest gateways, and mythic confrontations that evoke a world where agency is constantly undermined by unseen forces. Whether portraying a veiled trespasser confronted by a radiant adversary, a sinister hand offering a life-or-death potion, or a figure appealing to a higher power at an ominous gateway, Jenkins weaves stories that balance unease with hope.

Roche’s Hugs series blur the lines between plant, animal, and human, radiating a quiet luminescence that reflects on the solace found in our bodies and surroundings. The delicate pastel surfaces contribute to a serene atmosphere that fosters a sense of belonging. Like furnishings that make a house into a home, these works are designed to cultivate environments of peace and comfort, bridging the physical and emotional. Through this series, Roche reminds us of the intimate relationship between creation, care, and the grounding power of finding harmony in our daily spaces.

Together, the works of Graves, Jenkins, Rodríguez Pérez, and Roche create a vivid exploration of the boundaries between memory, fantasy, and physicality. Each artist delves into themes of connection, transformation, and the delicate mutability between the known and the unknown. From spectral echoes and mythic journeys, to reclaimed landscapes and meditative forms, the exhibition explores narratives that challenge perception and invite reflection. Grounded in the beauty of storytelling, these works offer a window into worlds both familiar and enigmatic, where meaning is discovered in the spaces between.