Vincentian artist Lennox Commissiong continues to impress with his diversified collection, displaying “Pontillism” over the weekend at the Wizardhands exhibition at the Dwyer Cultural Center in Harlem.
According to the center, Pontillism is a technique of neo-impressionist painting, using tiny dots of various pure colors, “which become blended in the viewer’s eye.”
“It was developed by Georges Seurat with the aim of producing a greater degree of luminosity and brilliance of color,” the center said. “Lennox Commissiong has mastered this technique using small pieces of color-aid paper, instead of paint.”
The Dwyer Cultural Center said Commissiong’s subjects range from cultural and political figures to Jazz musicians.
“His homage in small dots of color, and pointillistic approach represents the many lives they have touched across various races and cultures, as well as their political legacies,” it said.
“His abstract works explore shape and spatial relationships intending the viewer to experience the sensation of a visual ‘treasure hunt,’” it added.
“The collection of work is diversified utilizing various media consisting of color-aid paper, acrylics, pastels, charcoal, and pencils,” the Dwyer Cultural Center continued. “A blank page is also his inspiration.”
Commissiong’s journey in the last decade has evolved to, among other places, private showings in the New York Metro area, the Harlem Fine Arts Show, the Foundation venue and the Thelonious Monk Centennial Exhibition.
Born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 1958, Commissiong migrated to the United States in 1972. He resides in Hicksville, New York.
Commissiong is renowned for his work in various media — pencil, color pencil, acrylic, pastel and color aid paper.
He is known for intricate abstracts, depicting carefully-placed images that make up an overall theme.
Commissiong also places strong emphasis on ultra, close-up portraits of iconic cultural figures, as well as Jazz greats.
He said he is “greatly influenced” by masters, Vincent Van Gogh and M.C Escher.
His portraits are considered unique in that they are rendered in a “Pointillist” style, employing pixel-sized squares of color-aid paper attached to illustration board to create the images.
Commissiong said he is self-taught, drawing from his life’s experiences, which includes a stint in the United States Marine Corps, which, he said, afforded him “the opportunity to travel and absorb varying cultures in places, such as Hawaii, The Philippines, Africa, Australia, Korea, Singapore, Thailand Hong Kong and Sri Lanka.”
Commission also writes poetry and has had a poem adapted to song, “Visions of Doom,” by C-posse, available on Itunes.
He is also a board certified licensed massage therapist.
The artist said his greatest asset is his “fearless experimentation in different media and techniques.”
“I loved drawing as a child,” he said, adding that he is “fascinated by being able to transform one dimension into three.
“An artist is all I ever yearned to be,” Commissiong continued. I began by drawing realistic images, later gravitating toward abstract expression. My true creative space lies somewhere in-between.”
