John Mallett - Unatomy

About

The magic and beauty of these works is the delicate life inside each one. Like observing a stranger in a cafe, or fellow rider on a subway, the viewer is drawn in by the gentle and calm of their repose, and the question: are they like me? Mallett has honed his masterful ability to deconstruct a figure, and rebuild it in a way that pushes aside specifics of features, gender, or body. The series reveals a collection of individuals whose vulnerability illicites empathy and wonder.

John Mallett began his Unatomy paintings over 8 years ago while working as a commercial artist in Chicago and has produced more than 210 works in the series so far. The framework came from doing loose, watercolor anatomical paintings in life drawing sessions at Hubbard Street Lofts. These anatomical underpaintings are then desexed, broken down, derailed, then rebuilt over the course of several sittings. When making design choices he tries to follow an anti-rhythm theme of “not like before”. Mallett currently lives and paints in Columbus, Ohio.