“In that comfort it allowed for a confidence to explore painting and sculpture in a more rebellious way at an early age."
- Adam Handler
Adam Handler (1986) was born in NYC and grew up on Long Island, New York. As a young child and adolescent, he spent countless hours at his grandparents framing factory in Brooklyn. There, his passion for the arts grew and it became inevitable that he too would discover the many possibilities of art. Handler studied Classical Life Drawing in Italy and went on to graduate from Purchase College with a degree in Art History. He has also studied Craft Design, Art Restoration, Sculpture and printing color photography with Debra Mesa-Pelly. Curator Janet Lehr states about Handler’s work: His characters are reduced to puristic shapes and textures reminiscent of uninhibited adolescence. However, echoing a similar sophistication to Willem de Kooning’s figures, Handler competently and intriguingly allows figure and background to integrate at moments. This compositional choice is particularly inspiring for introspection. His technical expression in stroke resonates in his color palette. He skillfully builds a pointedly dynamic atmosphere within the canvas utilizing an impressive range of hues. Some pieces focus in rich, deep colors and others whose find resonance in pastels to further internal conversation.
Handler has mounted major solo exhibitions globally. His work has also been shown extensively at major art fairs which include Art New York, Art Taipei, Art021, DNA Shenzhen, Jing Art Fair, KIAF and the Armory Fair NY. In more recent years, Handler’s works have been sold through Sothebys, Christies and Phillips.
HELLO ADAM AND A WARM WELCOME TO THE 4BYSIX FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CHAT ABOUT YOUR ART PRACTICE AND THE NEW WORK YOU HAVE MADE FOR OUR ONGOING VEHICLES FOR CHANGE INITIATIVE.
TO BEGIN, YOU'VE PREVIOUSLY REFLECTED ON YOUR EXPOSURE TO ART IN BROOKLYN AND BEING SURROUNDED IN AN URBAN AND INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT AS A YOUNG CHILD. HOW DO YOU SEE THESE EARLY EXPERIENCES INFLUENCING THE VISUAL LANGUAGE WHICH HAVE EVOLVED INTO YOUR DISTINCTIVE STYLE?
I think those early industrial environments as a child allowed me to be very comfortable in creative urban environments ie exposure to limitless amounts of graffiti, artisans and painters. In that comfort it allowed for a confidence to explore painting and sculpture in a more rebellious way at an early age.
HOW HAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH COLOUR EVOLVED OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR PRACTICE? DO YOU SEE COLOUR PRIMARILY AS AN INSTINCTIVE EMOTIONAL LANGUAGE OR A TOOL TO ENHANCE THE WORK’S COMPOSITION?
Anybody who views my work can very quickly see that color plays a huge role in my practice. I use color more in an instinctual way rather then cerebral. Often color choices are influenced by the seasons, emotions and sometime fashion. I tend to be a creature of habit and have a core roster of colors that I continually come back to. For me “the color” is important but I often think how colors interact with each other and how that combination can cause harmony or dissonance within the work.
YOU HAVE RECENTLY GIVEN 4BYSIX A CANVAS WORK FOR THEIR VEHICLES FOR CHANGE INITIATIVE, RETURNING TO YOUR COMPREHENSIVE BACKGROUND AND ENGAGEMENT WITH ART HISTORY, CAN YOU TELL US IF THERE ARE ANY SPECIFIC INFLUENCES WHICH INFORMED THE DIRECTION OF THIS PIECE?
This work was very inspired by the Tonalist Movement mainly painters such as George Inness and James McNeill Whistler. I wanted this work to appear very ghostly…no pun intended. Utilizing only a few colors I wanted the Ghost to emerge from a soft veil of smoke.
ADAM HANDLER
Title: "Pale September Ghost" 2026
Size: 45.72 x 38.1 cm
Materials: Oil Stick on Linen, framed
Rarity: Unique
DO YOU SEE YOUR OWN PRACTICE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF DOCUMENTING AND RESPONDING TO CONVERSATIONS AROUND HUMANITY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ENVIRONMENT?
While in my personal life I discuss that matter, in my work it tends to respond to very personal and emotional matter in my own life. The work is very much a pictorial diary, that allows me to release emotions, anxieties and energy.
LASTLY, CAN YOU TELL US HOW LIFE IS IN THE STUDIO AND WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOUR CREATIVE PRACTICE?
Life in the studio is quite relaxing and acts as a place of refuge as it always has for me. Its a place where I am surrounded with familiar faces but nobody talks. I have my past, present and future all in the same space which acts as the perfect catalyst for the next project. I currently have one of my largest exhibitions opening next week in Shenzhen, China which will have an interactive install and display some new series of works.