Top Left and Right: Zoë Lukas, Pink Series: Uncharted and Pink Series, Heart of Darkness, both 2023
Bottom: Paul Marrocco, The upside of a misspent youth, 2021
December 2nd 2023 - January 13th 2024
Gallery Hours: 24/7
miniMAC (miniature Mount Airy Contemporary)
25 West Mt. Airy Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19119
www.mountairycontemporary.com
miniMAC is pleased to announce Scratching the Surface, an exhibition of works by Zoë Lukas and Paul Marrocco. Both artists share an approach to non-objective painting that connects the superficial repetitive mark of paint on the surface to a gesture that digs deep into what can only be discovered when fully engaged.
Zoë Lukas spent the beginning of 2023 working on a new series of mostly small pieces focused on the color pink. She explains her choice, “I have been working on limiting the color range within each piece, which allows me to focus on the joy of the process, minimal color shifts and subtle layering.” Themes emerging in these pieces include mapping and wayfinding and the act of veiling or obscuring layers. Lukas uses repetitive markmaking as a meditative ritual, creating a shroud that quiets the constant interruptions and chaos of day-to-day life.
Paul Marrocco makes paintings that are non-representational and about the interplay between color, form, line, and texture. He states, “I want the audience to integrate their own personal narrative and draw their own conclusions from the paintings. The viewing experience should be open ended, expansive, and free from premeditated notions.”
Marrocco’s process is exploratory with unexpected outcomes. With the painted mark, he tries to tap into the myriad of internal and intangible forces operating in the subconscious beneath perception and purposeful thinking. Marrocco is inspired by Zen master D.T. Suzuki's statement, “Man is a thinking reed, but his great works are done when he is not calculating and thinking. Uncluttered without words or instruction, a still mind makes for the best performance”.
During the day, Zoë Lukas designs custom cakes at Whipped Bakeshop, the award-winning Fishtown bakery that she founded in 2009 with her husband, Brennen. At night, Lukas can often be found in her home studio creating abstract paintings and collages. You can see more of her work on Instagram @zoe.lukas and @whippedbakeshop
Paul Marrocco was born in New York City and is currently working and living in Philadelphia. He returned to painting in earnest just a few years ago, after focusing on his career in video production for many years. Marrocco has been drawing and painting since he was a child and is largely self-taught. He creates work that is dynamic and expressive while balancing shape and line with color and texture. More of Marrocco’s work can be seen on Instagram @paul.marrocco
miniMAC is a project of MAC (Mount Airy Contemporary). MAC has been curating shows in northwest Philadelphia since 2009.
