LewAllen Galleries in Santa Fe presents 'Primal field / Interval,' an exhibition of new paintings and monotypes by San Francisco-based artist Henry Jackson, running from May 15 to June 20, 2026. Jackson’s work blends Bay Area Figuration with Abstract Expressionism, using masonry trowels and scrapers to build and excavate layers of oil paint and cold wax, creating elemental fields where the human figure emerges from abstraction. The show also includes oil-based monotypes derived from spontaneous material happenings on the plate.
This exhibition matters because it showcases a mature artist who has developed a unique visual language over three decades, reconciling two historically opposed painting traditions. Jackson’s technique of obscuring individual identity to evoke archetypal forms invites psychological engagement, pushing the boundaries of figurative abstraction. The show also highlights LewAllen Galleries’ role as a major contemporary art venue in the Western United States.