Pushing Boundaries

Pushing Boundaries features a selection of abstract large format paintings made by artists currently enrolled in the Large Scale Painting class at HPAC instructed by Chicago painter Darrell Roberts. The Large Scale Painting class focuses on developing a new appreciation for large format paintings. Roberts encourages his students to remain involved with the art-making process outside of the classroom. Students are urged to get involved with the Chicago art scene, visit galleries, and explore the new trends in contemporary painting. Back in the studio, the students share new ideas, critique their work regularly, and encourage each other to push their painting to new heights. The artists in Roberts’ class come from a variety of backgrounds. Some previously studied art at schools such as the Pratt Institute (NY) and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Others have produced murals with the Chicago Public Art Group, and achieved success in creative fields including interior design. These artists are experimenting with paints in ways that they never had before. The majority of the students are revisiting a painting practice put on hold, while a few are even working with paint for the first time.