Botanical portraits: Patrick Puckett art at Wally Workman Gallery

I’ve admired Puckett’s supersized oil portraits for years, but his new exhibition, Mythos, at Wally Workman Gallery is his best yet.… Read More The post Botanical portraits: Patrick Puckett art at Wally Workman Gallery appeared first on Digging. June 23, 2023 Persephone I went to see the new Patrick Puckett show at Austin’s Wally Workman Gallery today. I’ve admired Puckett’s supersized oil portraits for years, but his new exhibition, Mythos, is his best yet. In my favorite paintings, his female subjects gaze confidently at the viewer with piercing eyes. Flatly rendered, they wear colorful, feminine clothing — pleated Sunday school dresses, flowing caftans, brightly striped shawls — and vines twist, palms rustle, and flowers nod all around them. You can’t help but stare back, trying to read their inscrutable features. Demeter You need a big wall to own a Puckett painting. Demeter, for instance, is 84 x 68”. Can you imagine sharing your home with her, or Persephone? I can. Helena of Constantinople Do you think Puckett might be a gardener, or at least a lover of gardens? How could he not be? Leda For those who love Puckett’s paintings but find their prices out of reach (raises hand), limited edition prints of a few of his works are now available. Or if you just want to return those calm, assured gazes for a few minutes, get to Wally Workman Gallery before July 2nd, when the Mythos exhibition ends. If you do, pop behind the gallery to see the pretty landscaping at new restaurant Pecan Square Café. Along the sidewalk, a long, concrete-edged lily pond lends a certain coolness to a hot summer’s day. And waterlilies glow like melon-colored stars. I welcome your comments. Please scroll to the end of this post to leave one. If you’re reading in an email, click here to visit Digging and find the comment box at the end of each post. And hey, did someone forward this email to you, and you want to subscribe? Click here to get Digging delivered directly to your inbox! __________________________ Digging Deeper Come learn about garden design from the experts at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, and authors a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance. Simply click this link and ask to be added. Season 7 starts in August. Stay tuned for the lineup! All material © 2023 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. The post Botanical portraits: Patrick Puckett art at Wally Workman Gallery appeared first on Digging.