Paul Sattler is a contemporary painter inspired by surrealism, mythology, literature, and historical artworks. In his loose and expressive oil paintings, animals and people engage in obscure narratives within domestic cross-sections and theatrical backdrops. Sattler captivates the viewer with fantastic scenes referencing parlor tricks or illusion, employing his personal sleight of hand to articulate a figure with a few well-placed brush strokes and hide elements in plain sight.
Complex narrative sequences unfold in richly-hued canvases directly inspired by such diverse references as comic books and 18th Century paintings by William Hogarth. Impasto brushwork and vibrant color choices define Sattler's enthralling oils, while curious characters occupy ambiguous spaces.
Charivari, pageants of public humiliation, are depicted in a confessional mode as a way of processing episodes from the artist's past and his fears of more significant societal trends. Themes of scrutiny and public display provide visceral tension in the work and serve as provocative reminders of our self-consciousness.
