Reginald Sylvester II relates to a quote stated by Ben Bowling, son of Sir Franklin Bowling OBE RA that, "painting is like soul food." He lets his paintings simmer and cook, approaching each additional splatter/stroke with chef-like intention. His Abstract Expressionist style and process are manifestations of his faith. His work reflects on ideas of heaven, religion, trauma, and the contemporary black experience. Reginald relates abstraction with the reflection of what it means to struggle internally.
The body of work depicted is titled 'Refuge Paintings.' Some of which will be shown at his first American museum exhibition at the Harvey B. Gantt Center in North Carolina this May. Reginald is interested in using materials that have exterior histories that contain more life and textural properties. He is painting on military tent shell halves from the late 1960's and early 70's. The cloth and darker colors represent the times we are living in and his perspective on topics such as race, social justice, and the search of oneself through faith. The bright colors interact with the fabric, screaming for brighter times and delving viewers into deep contemplation.
Reginald painted two canvases while I was at his Brooklyn studio. The first canvas was already stretched and stapled, he approached the work color by color. He says he takes time to reflect on where he wants to put more paint and how it will augment the voice of the painting. Stepping back to reassess his work after the completion of every step. Changing his method of applying paint, often each addition to the canvas was made with his hands, various brushes, scrap paper and scraping tools. Reginald points out that the paint coming from the top is like a descension from above. The following piece he approached by conjoining two military halves and placing a frame on top. I watched him meticulously decide how to wrap the tarps around the frame. This time around he decided to paint the side with exposed wood and rope. Tying the ropes together before beginning to paint. Watching him work was profound and has left a lasting impression.
We cleaned up at the studio and headed over to his apartment to photograph and chat more. It was abundantly clear upon entering his place that his highly refined artistic approach permeates into all forms of his expression. The same intention placed in each of his painting strokes was applied to his space. We sat on his couch discussing ideas of belief and culture watching a documentary about a furniture designer. With roots in design he finds interest in many and even all forms of art. Reginald says he spends most of his time absorbing information via media, books, and design research. His curiosity and library like knowledge influences and enhances his work in every medium. He seems to be a once in a generation caliber of artist.