Jerry Loughlin at his solo exhibition at @Home Real Estate on July 14. Photo by Hernán Martín Alonso
Jerry Loughlin displayed his artwork on July 14, in his first solo exhibition at @Home Real Estate.
Curator Angelica Guadamuz described Loughlin’s exhibition as “a map of the rough seas of his life.”
She considers much of his work to be built on a system of “personal codes.” The densely-packed ink, color markers, and pencil drawings feature many recurrent images symbolic of Loughlin’s personal history. Interwoven into a landscape of large, colorful shapes and bodies are intricate, almost hidden details: mac & cheese, bananas, demons, hands, and nails.
“Loughlin’s eyes are like a camera that collects everything he sees and then draws it, colors it, grates it, or turns it into a scrawl,” Guadamuz said.
Guadamuz met Loughlin while volunteering at Look Again Resale Shop, where he works. She saw some of his drawings and convinced him to show her larger, completed pieces. She wanted to formally show his work.
Born in California in the 1950s, Loughlin moved to Shirlington in 2011. He now lives in Del Ray. As a self-taught artist, Loughlin said, “The only way I could learn to draw was trial and error.”
He describes his psychedelic expressionist pieces as coming from “the energy and disorientation of nightmares.” He is also deeply influenced by science fiction: #37, finished in 1979, was inspired by space travel and study.
Patrons were also enthusiastic about Loughlin’s work. Yvonne Bonner, a retired U.S. marshal, was in awe of Loughlin’s use of color. She was also struck by details so small that she discovered something new each time she returned to a piece.
Select pieces of Loughlin’s are available for purchase at @Home Real Estate on 111 South Alfred St. until the end of the month.