Yellena James explores a wildly flourishing imaginary ecosystem in her solo show “Radiance,” opening at LeQuiVive Gallery in Oakland on January 10. While paintings of flowers are traditionally on the tame side, James’s work is far-removed from your average still life. Her flat, stylized flora explodes from every corner of each piece. The brightly colored, biomorphic shapes are ambiguous and suggestive, sometimes even overwhelmingly energetic. James draws and paints them in combinations of acrylic, marker, and ink, inviting a playful dance of various textures. “Radiance” will include a site-specific mural at the gallery, as well.
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The mysterious portraits of Belgian painter Eddy Stevens are filled with stirring symbols that invite the viewer to unpack their meanings. Though his work has a certain timeless quality that recalls 16th- and 17th-century painters, his work is also filled with contemporary flourishes and progressive approaches to the craft.