NICOLA VASSELL GALLERY SHOWCASES GLIMMERING COLOR
New York-based artist Alteronce Gumby is set to open his latest exhibition, Prince of the Far Rainbow, at Nicola Vassell Gallery, inviting viewers on a vibrant journey through the energetic and emotive possibilities of color. The show will feature a new suite of abstract paintings, including iterations of his renowned ‘moonwalker’ series, as well as his newly debuted works, ‘rainbow’ and ‘falling rainbow,’ as the artist’s deepened exploration of color and its materiality will be showcased. As Gumby explains in an interview with designboom, these works are the culmination of two years of research and travel, experiences that expanded his understanding of color from a purely visual element into a multi-sensory phenomenon. Gumby reflects, ‘color connects us with the world around us in ways we often overlook. My aim is to bring that connection to life in my work.’ Prince of the Far Rainbow will be on view from November 2nd through December 14th, 2024 at Nicola Vassell Gallery at 138 Tenth Avenue, New York, NY.
This expanded understanding of color is evident in the tactile richness of Alteronce Gumby’s pieces on view at Prince of the Far Rainbow at Nicola Vassell Gallery in New York. Here, materials like shattered glass, gemstones, and acrylic-colored mirrors become the building blocks of color. His ‘moonwalker’ paintings, which incorporate reflective surfaces, shimmer and shift as viewers move around them, evoking ever-changing landscapes. ‘I wanted to capture that sense of motion and transformation,‘ Gumby says. ‘These paintings are alive in a sense, constantly reacting to their surroundings and to the people who engage with them.’ His use of mirrors, initially inspired by NASA’s cosmic photography, creates an interactive experience where the audience sees both the artwork and themselves, a reflection of the evolving nature of perception.
In the ‘rainbow’ and ‘falling rainbow’ series, Gumby pushes this engagement further by introducing natural elements, such as silk dyed with plant-based pigments. Inspired by his residency in Tangier, where he experimented with natural dyes, these works offer a new sensory dimension. ‘The falling rainbow pieces are meant to extend beyond the canvas,’ Gumby shares, ‘inviting viewers to touch and feel the color, making it a part of their physical world.’ Through Prince of the Far Rainbow, Gumby presents color as a visual spectacle and as a dynamic, transformative force that reshapes how viewers understand and interact with the world. Read designboom’s full interview with the artist.
