Smashed Realities

Smashed Realities is on view at Aloft Minneapolis through December 6, featuring the abstract, symbolist paintings of Derek Meier. The show opened on Friday, October 9, with a reception from 5:30 to 7:30 PM, and it'll be running for several weeks after that.

Meier describes his work as "smashed realities reformed into a singular home," and that's a good starting point for what you'll see. He works with bright, saturated fields of color and constructs portals within the canvas, mixing in what he calls "derelict" shapes. The effect is a push and pull between 2D and 3D space, with hidden layers that build up luminance, color depth, and meaning. It's the kind of work that changes depending on how long you stand in front of it.

There's a specific way Meier wants you to approach these paintings, too. He encourages viewers to deconstruct what they see, lean on their own imagination, and then reassemble the elements through their own perception. It's less about finding a single "correct" reading and more about letting your own eye do the work.

You can find the show at Aloft Minneapolis, 900 S Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55415. It runs through December 6, so there's plenty of time to catch it if you missed the opening night.