John Dante Bianchi — À propos — Slash Paris

In John Dante Bianchi’s series “Bruised Panels,” the artist begins by placing sheets of aluminum on wood panels and creating colored layers of paint that mimic the way a bruise appears on skin. The subsequent process of sanding down the paint to a uniform surface texture reflects on how humans transform and regenerate following painful events.

At first glance, John Dante Bianchi’s bas-relief works appear to be painted abstractions. A closer looks reveals a hand-hewn, sculpted process, which involves layering, sanding, and stripping of material and color. “I don’t want to be considered a painter, I’m really a sculptor. These are flat sculptures,” Bianchi has said. The artist’s recent “Bruised Panel” series references bruises and the human body, unexpectedly blending trauma with beauty through luminous coloring and softly textured surfaces. Educated at Parsons School of Design, Cooper Union, and Yale University, Bianchi now lives and works in Brooklyn and is represented by Thierry Goldberg Gallery, New York and Galerie Derouillon, Paris. Bianchi has recently exhibited at David Zwirner Gallery, New York.