Michael Ferris Jr. presents dual artistic worlds at Aron Packer Gallery exhibition

Michael Ferris Jr.'s exhibition "The Artist's Studio (Revisited)" runs from October 10 to November 15 at Aron Packer Gallery in Chicago. The show features two distinct bodies of work that explore contrasting artistic realms. Ferris creates large primal humanoid sculptures using an intarsia wood inlay technique influenced by African and Middle Eastern art, with surfaces displaying geometric patterns. These sculptures reference Chinese lore's "immortal" beings who exist between worlds. Simultaneously, his paintings and drawings depict the artist as a lonely old man surrounded by dismembered sculptural figures, creating a narrative of personal pathos and artistic alienation. Ferris draws inspiration from Chicago artists Seymour Rosofsky and Ivan Albright, adopting Rosofsky's sardonic humor and Albright's focus on mortal limitations. His technique also reflects late Gothic Flemish art, particularly the work of Van der Goes. The exhibition continues Chicago's tradition of fantastic personal narrative and expressive emotion. Ferris's father, also an artist, influenced his belief in artistic devotion despite unconventional expression.