Artist Statement​

   Aaron works across mediums, continuously searching to understand the emotive potential of space, an interest first sparked by his relationship with Arshile Gorky’s painting, The Artist and His Mother, in which shape and color are the only things standing between Gorky and his deceased mother. In this way, shape and color themselves became charged, creating a space simultaneously of separation and desire. Now, Aaron has expanded this fascination with space into both the physical and illusionist realms by integrating egg tempera painting on hand-carved wood relief sculptures. Harkening back to one of the oldest forms of painting as well as a queer lineage through artists like George Tooker and Paul Cadmus, in egg tempera individual strokes of paint weave together, culminating in an image that transforms a flat surface into one which holds depth that expands beyond the relief. 
   Aaron is also drawn to relief for its inherent use of anamorphic perspective, a logic that holds strictly to one point of view and falters when an audience moves beyond that point. In this way, relief opens up the potential for queer space. That which pushes against the normativity of the frontal view. When we deviate from this singular perspective of normalcy, we instead experience a visceral reaction to the slippage —we are confronted with disorientation. Aaron wants to explore the limits of this potential. To make work that engages multiple points of view which push up against each other even to the point of conflict. To embrace the murky, in-between space of the unknowable and the uncertain. To live with(in) contradiction. 
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CV

​Education:
2024    MFA, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI (anticipated)
2024    Certificate in Collegiate Teaching in Art and Design, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI (anticipated)
2020    BFA, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2020    Certificate, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA

Residencies:
2019    Yale Norfolk Summer Art Residency, Norfolk, CT

Group Exhibitions:
2024     What Lovers Do, FLAG Art Foundation, New York City, NY
              RISD MFA Thesis Exhibition, Dunkin Donuts Convention Center, Providence, RI
              Biomes, CCS Bard Hessel Museum, Dutchess County, NY
              Joy Ride, Warner Gallery, Millbrook, NY
              Rubrica, Gelman Gallery, Providence, RI
2023    A Room with a View, Vardan Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
             In the Heat of the Night, Andrew Reed Gallery, New York City, NY
              Painting with Butter, Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence, RI
2022    The Bathroom Show, Monya Rowe Gallery, New York City, NY
              RISD Painting Triennial, Woods-Gerry Gallery, Providence, RI
              5 to Watch, Avery Galleries, Bryn Mawr, PA
2021    Elements, Milcon Gallery, Virtual
2020    AXA Art Prize, New York Academy of Fine Arts, New York City, NY
              B.A.S.E., Anna Zorina Gallery, Virtual
              BFA 2020, Serving the People, Virtual
PAFA Emerging Artists, The Plastic Club, Philadelphia, PA
              The Art Student Exhibition, William Way LGBT Community Center, Philadelphia, PA
              PAFA Alumni Exhibit, Borrelli's Chestnut Hill Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2019    118th Annual Student Exhibition, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Stonewall @ 50, Leonard Pearlstein Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
              14th Annual Juried Art Exhibition, William Way LGBT Community Center, Philadelphia, PA
2018    117th Annual Student Exhibition, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
              WayGay's 2018 Juried Exhibition, William Way LGBT Community Center, Philadelphia, PA
2017    Philly Art Schools Show, Kimmel Center for Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2016    National Youngarts Awards Showcase Exhibition, Sotheby’s Auction House, New York, NY
              Chashama’s Pre-Gala Kickoff Party, 1 World Trade Center, New York, NY
              Linked: Philly Art Schools, Gallery 128, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
              Long Island’s Best Young Artists, Hecksher Museum of Art, Huntington, NY

Awards:
2023    The Grad Commons Grant
2020    The Fine Arts Venture Fund Award
2019    The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant
              The Raymond D. & Estelle Rubens Travel Scholarship
              The Fine Arts Venture Fund Award
              The Gamblin Paint Prize

Publications:
2023    New American Paintings, MFA ANNUAL #165

Public Collections:
Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA

Curating:
​2020    Gilbert Lewis: Awkward Tenderness, William Way LGBT Community Center, Philadelphia, PA