Adam Lupton’s work grows out of his OCD, where his every day is filled with performing mental and physical rituals (checking multiple times to see if the door is locked), endlessly seeking assurance (constantly Googling to see if his emotions are “correct”), and repeating mantras and projections (what if this happens in the future, then what? then what? then what?) – thoughts that mediate between him and the exterior world.
Using variations or alternative versions of himself to express in some familiar-but-off landscape the unfolding emotions and actions of his OCD, Lupton works with non-traditional methods of paint application: using stamps, printmaking, and craft applications to express the varied, repetitive, and frantic emotions of intrusive thoughts. These applications mediate between him and the painting, much like OCD mediates between him and his world.
Through this lens, the work weaves together individual and societal rituals, spiritual tension, and self-defining myth, thereby illuminating the various attempts at and desires for clarity. These overlaps create narratives that play out on the canvas – borrowing their basis from Greek myths, religious rituals, rock lyrics, modern dating plights, domestic routines, history, introspection, sexuality, and compulsions – as Lupton casts a contemporary world of anxiety though questions of identity, masculinity, ego, modern-day loneliness, domesticity, and mental health.
Adam Lupton (°1987, Vancouver, Canada) currently lives and works between Berlin and Brooklyn.
Select Exhibits
2023
Thoughts Became Things – solo – Galerie Russi Klenner, Berlin, Germany
2022
The Long, Loud Silence – solo – Scope BLN, Berlin, Germany
On the Outside Looking In – group – Room 57 Gallery, New York, NY
Gradually, then Suddenly – solo – SomoS Arts, Berlin, Germany
2021
Give Me Some Skin – group – Sugarlift Highline, New York, NY
2020
Cerberus – solo – GR Gallery, New York, NY
2020 Vision – group – Southhampton Arts Center, Southhampton, NY
Drawn Together – group – Unit London, London, UK
ME – group – Juxtapoz + Sugarlift, New York, NY
2019
TELOS – solo – Sugarlift Project Space, New York, NY
2018
he said / he said – solo – Gates Gallery, Colora, MD
Beyond Figuration – group – Cheng Xi Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China
2017
Scope Art Fair – group – Modus Gallery, Miami, FL
Open Studios – group – Sugarlift Gallery, New York, NY
The Lonely Crowd – group – Helikon Gallery, Denver, CO
2016
Air (Elements) – group – chashama, New York, NY
Edge of Realism – group – Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
2015
LIA Summer Show – group – Leipziger Internationales Atelierprogramm, Leipzig, Germany
Summer Exhibiton – group – Flowers Gallery, New York, NY
2014
Not Everything That Goes Around Comes Back Around – solo – GAM Gallery, Vancouver BC
What’s In Store For Me In The Direction I Don’t Take? – solo – Positive Negative Gallery, Vancouver BC
Select Features
ArtMaze Mag – 2022
Rattle Poetry – 2021
Porter House Review – 2020
Counterclock – 2019
Hayden’s Ferry Review – 2018
SAD Magazine – 2016
Slice Literary – 2016
American Art Collector – 2016
Le Hotel Magazine – 2015
Juxtapoz – 2014
Hi-Fructose – 2014
Booooooom.com – 2014
Public Art Magazine – 2013