Radius Gallery is delighted to present its first solo exhibition of new artworks by Missoula's own Theo Ellsworth. "Imaginative" hardly begins to describe the universe of creatures and contraptions, places and pursuits depicted in the artist's uniquely shaped woodcut illustrations. Inspired by comics, folk art, dreams, Aztec codices, robots, good storytelling and general unruliness, Ellsworth offers up a visual feast not easily forgotten.

WARNING: Adding an artwork to your shopping cart does not, sadly, reserve it. Another visitor may have the same item in their cart and “scoop” it from you if they input their credit card first. If you really love a piece, we suggest you hurry to the check out to avoid disappointment. You can continue shopping after that purchase.

These works will be available for pick up or shipping the week after September 24th.

ARTIST STATEMENT

For me, drawing has always been the most readily accessible way to have weird personal experiences. The imagery produced during these experiences acts as a kind of proof: if these things didn’t really happen to me, there wouldn’t be corresponding imagery to show for it. When I first became obsessed with drawing, years ago, I felt like I was literally drawing my head out of a fog. The simple act of making marks with pen on paper allowed for a certain sought-after feeling to become more possible, the feeling of being relaxed and alert at the same time. It’s a kind of gentle concentration that anyone who dedicates themselves to a creative process knows well. It is, of course, tricky to find our way into this kind of flow-state, let alone maintain it in our perplexing and often enraging human world. I love drawing because there are so few obstacles between myself and the creative act. Hand with pen on paper, an act so simple it’s deemed childish by most of society. But it’s the only tool I’ve personally found that consistently helps me grapple with the everyday complexities and nuances of life. I feel it’s our tendency towards simplistic thinking, the need to pin down our reality into unmovable certainties, that leaves the most room for cruelty in the world. My own mental health feels completely dependent on my dogged pursuit of that elusive flow-state within this mind-boggling and often nonsensical world.

The images you see around you are the outcome of my most recent weird personal experiences. This eclectic cast of characters—Thought Form Folk—includes space walkers, robots, witches, gymnasts, lizard-boys, aliens, ghosts, a supernatural comedy troupe, and more. They are imaginary but they are also real physical presences, cut from wood and drawn with a human hand. I hope that looking at them makes your brain feel good, or, at the very least, weird. Thank you for being here.

BIO

Theo Ellsworth is a self-taught artist who creates comics, art zines, illustrations, and wood cut art. He lives with his family in Missoula and is considered fairly normal looking.