Brian Lathan's work can be described as powerful statements rendered in vibrant color. His prints grip the viewer and challenge their perception of the world. Wander and Wallow: Must We Dwell is an exhibition of Lathan’s work that dwells in the fragile space between escapism, indulgence, and restraint, tracing the quiet negotiations we make with ourselves in the name of self-care. It considers how presence and avoidance coexist, and how the desire for escape can gently, almost invisibly, eclipse the needs of the self we house within. Each figure contains a smaller version of themselves, dwelling inside an exposed headspace where a ramshackle interior offers both shelter and unease. The absent crown of the larger figure reveals this inner home at a suspended moment - just before neglect becomes recognizable, before damage announces itself. Fluorescent color and halftone imagery offer their brightness and patterning to soften and obscure the somber tenderness beneath. The viewer is invited to dwell and consider the things we dwell on or with, such as ourselves, our habits, and the inner spaces we construct for care and survival. The work positions the viewer as observer, mirror, and voyeur, allowing questions of coping, presence, and care to surface without resolution. Born and based in St. Louis, Brian Lathan is an artist and educator who explores printmaking, illustration, and sculpture. He examines the dynamics of print, print ephemera, digital illustration, and sculpture, persistently exploring these media as means of expressing personal and subjective commentary and narration. Currently, he teaches printmaking at several universities around St. Louis. Lathan recently received a grant from the Regional Arts Commission for a large mural, which can be seen on Cherokee Street in St. Louis.

Wander and Wallow: Must We Dwell will open at Fine Line’s Kavanagh Gallery on Thursday, October 15, and run until November 20.

The gallery is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm.

A gallery reception will be held on Thursday, October 15, from 6–8 p.m. The artist, Brian Lathan, will be in attendance and speak at 6.30 pm about his art. The reception, like all Kavanagh Gallery receptions, is free and open to everyone.