Established Gallery is proud to present Inner Victories, a solo exhibition by Sean Qualls. This is the artist’s second solo show with Established Gallery. Sean will be exhibiting illustrations he created for The Idea in You, the recent book written by Questlove and recent paintings from his RE-IMAGE series. An objective of this work is to speak to a larger audience and contribute to changing the landscape of words and images that dominate our world.
This exhibition will be on view October 10th thru November 10th with an opening reception on October 10th from 6:30pm – 9pm. Established gallery is open by appointment Monday thru Thursday with public hours from 3pm – 8pm on weekends.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Sean Qualls is an award-winning, Brooklyn-based, children's book illustrator, artist, and author. Qualls' books and illustrations often explore history and non-fiction subjects. His fine art focuses on race & identity and the intersection of history & mythology, ultimately examining how we create our own identities or allow them to be scripted for us.
Together, his paintings and illustrations reveal simultaneously unique and universal moments of the human spirit. Qualls has illustrated Emmanuel's Dream (Schneider Award recipient) written by Laurie Ann Thompson, Giant Steps to Change the World written by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee and Before John Was a Jazz Giant (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor) written by Carole Boston Weatherford, among many others. Qualls lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.
ARTIST STATEMENT
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INNER VICTORIES is a show of my latest personal paintings from the ongoing RE-IMAGE series alongside illustrations from THE IDEA IN YOU co-created w/Questlove.
The title reflects the idea that 'private victories precede public victories.' While audience connection is rewarding, I consider every completed artwork a personal achievement. Ideally, each painting, illustration or book is a link in a chain of private and public accomplishments.
RE-IMAGE is a series of paintings that I began two years ago. It reimagines how advertising and package design can be used to uplift and elevate humanity. I've always been inspired by the art we see everyday that unknowingly influences us like book jackets, magazine ads, textiles, posters and product packaging. My goal is to take elements from all of these and make something new yet, familar, something that references the past but becomes a catalyst for a better future and the elevation of us all.