36" x 36" acrylic on canvas

36" x 48" acrylic on canvas

Artist Statement

The power of color impacts each generation through a unique lens of design and narrative expression. The comic books of the 1970s & 80s, Saturday morning cartoons, and must-have toys of the Gen-X generation utilized color, motion and story to unequivocally convince the latch-key kids that this special universe of commercial ephemera was lovingly built exclusively for them. The characters, the adventures, the imagination and the messaging from children's products were proprietary to only those who cherished them faithfully. It would somehow bestow upon them the responsibility to protect these iconic properties with a pride for knowing too much about the franchises. They are the original Star Wars generation. They are the heralded nerds, the adorable geeks, and the Comic-Con fans of today's middle-age pop culture collectors. And they can see the color of their heroes without needing any story.

This collection of paintings features the deconstructed hints of a hero, a global icon, an evergreen fashion design, a psychological examination of the human condition and a treasure to multiple generations since his inception in 1939. The character, the world, the design that is Batman is a robust creation that even when broken into pieces is unmistakable. He is color, motion and narrative that intrinsically tells his story. Despite my efforts to break him, I cannot. He is eighty years of evolved imagination that has made his form and movement indelible.

However, my aim is not to maliciously break anything. Instead, it's my effort to push this character outside predictable settings to test what cues embody the temperament, menace and motion of Batman through abstraction. I hope you will enjoy this collection of discovery.

-Larry Daley