Derek Franklin's solo exhibition "The Poet's Lips" is on view at Elizabeth Leach Gallery in Portland, Oregon from May 6 to May 30, 2026. The show features nearly monochromatic oil paintings and slender floor-to-ceiling sculptures that evoke a foggy, spiritual luminosity. Franklin draws inspiration from Søren Kierkegaard's 1843 work *Either/Or*, exploring themes of suffering transformed into beauty, and references artists such as Kazimir Malevich, Robert Ryman, and Willem de Kooning. The paintings incorporate veiled scenes of everyday life, including bowls of salad and plates of food, alongside large orbs with indistinct faces, while the sculptures resemble recorders or lightning rods.
The exhibition matters because it presents a thoughtful synthesis of painterly abstraction, philosophical depth, and intimate spatial experience. Franklin's work engages viewers in a dialogue about light, time, and perception, while connecting contemporary painting to a broader art-historical and philosophical lineage. The show also highlights the ongoing vitality of Portland's gallery scene and the continued relevance of monochromatic and meditative approaches in visual art.