William Bradley: Darkness or the Dawn

Lowell Ryan Projects is pleased to present Darkness or the Dawn, a solo exhibition by British-born, Los Angeles-based artist William Bradley. In this second exhibition with the gallery, Bradley explores the emotional and psychological transitions between opposing forces through large-scale abstract paintings, reflecting on his own history and memory in relation to nature's continuous ebb and flow.

The title, Darkness or the Dawn, alludes to a pivotal moment of transformation, confronting the tension between unrest and the possibility of renewal. Bradley’s work resonates with the timeless reflections of William Blake and the Romantic poets, who often grappled with the complexities of light and shadow. Blake famously stated in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, “The most sublime act is to set another before you,” suggesting that the whole experience of light can only occur after we have encountered darkness. Embracing this philosophy, Bradley asks: Can we truly appreciate the dawn without first navigating the depths of night? Through the unfolding of color and form, Bradley seeks a pathway through struggle toward a renewed understanding of self and the world.

Bradley’s paintings are characterized by cut-out, canvas-covered geometric shapes protruding off the canvas's surface. Painted gesturally in a rich, brooding color palette, each piece's narrative unfolds through the act of creation. Vivid reds, burnt oranges, and radiant ochres crackle across the canvas, evoking the first light of dawn breaking through a long night. At the same time, deep midnight blues, dark greens, and crimson tones vibrate against them, creating a dynamic tension between light and darkness. He allows the formal structure to evolve before transitioning to instinctual, free-flowing gestures. As the shapes rise from the surface, they embody both void and presence and a delicate balance of embrace and resistance.