John Beech

Using the humblest of materials, from car floor mats to raw plywood, Beech creates objects that are at the same time rough-hewn and elegant, intricately designed and straightforward, dead serious and subtly humorous. His work straddles the categories of painting and sculpture. Beech is interested in “the object quality of things.” He is interested in letting the form and materials demonstrate themselves. Another important element in Beech’s work is his choice of materials.

“I’m interested in fusing the visual vocabulary of utility and abstract art,” he says. Ordinary objects such as dumpsters and patched subway platforms catch his eye and provide the basis for nuanced works of art. He acknowledges the influence of contemporary masters such as Donald Judd, but sees his own aesthetic as “street level” and engaged, as opposed to the polish and detachment of many reductionists.