Reggie Burrows Hodges: Mela

Edith Devaney

ISBN 10: 8857255379 / ISBN 13: 9788857255378

Published by Skira Sep 2026, 2026

About this Item

Neuware - African-American painter Reggie Burrows Hodges (b. 1965, Compton, California) pursues a strong visual narrative in his works, which explore questions of identity, community and memory. Published on the occasion of his solo exhibition at MICAS, this publication features recent paintings which illustrate Hodges' singular technique of employing a black ground across his canvases and then developing the scene around his figures with painterly, loose brushwork. A technique which deliberately plays with perceptions by reducing the focus on the human figure, which is essentially formed by the negative space within the composition; a practice which accentuates the environment where the figures are situated rather than the figures themselves. As he notes, 'I start with a black ground [as a way] of dealing with blackness' totality. I'm painting an environment in which the figures emerge from negative space… if you see my paintings in person, you'll look at the depth.' Hodges' early study of performance and film brings a sense of dramatic staging to his compositions, which, coupled by a softness in the application of paint, ensures a subtlety of approach in addressing the challenging universal themes of existence which he explores.

Seller Inventory # 9788857255378

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Reggie Burrows Hodges: Mela
• Publisher: Skira Sep 2026
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 8857255379
• ISBN 13: 9788857255378
• Binding: Buch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 300W x 280H x 45D millimeters 300 millimeters width by 280 millimeters height by 45 millimeters depth
• Weight: 1800 grams

About this title

Synopsis

A technique-focused study of Hodges’ recent paintings, where soft brushstrokes against black ground contribute to his subtle approach to the figure in space

Compton-born, Maine-based painter Reggie Burrows Hodges (born 1965) originally studied film and performance art, and thus brings a sense of dramatic staging to his compositions. Beginning with a black ground, Hodges builds his scenes through loose brushwork―a technique which deliberately plays with perceptions by reducing the focus on the human figure. As Hodges says, “I’m painting an environment in which the figures emerge from negative space.” By focusing on the environment where the figures are situated rather than the figures themselves, Hodges explores questions of identity, community and memory. Published on the occasion of the artist’s first solo museum exhibition in Europe, Mela features over 30 new works inspired by his relocation to Malta.