Austin Parkhill takes Times Square and the Arvada Center

Austin Parkhill is getting some big exposure. I mean really big. Gigantic. Even if for only a fleeting moment, his portrait of “Hannah” was larger than life exposed to millions in New York’s Times Square for Art Take Times Square a project of Artist’s Wanted.org. Parkhill was a finalist and had his work on display. The winner of the contest, Vicki DaSilva won $10,000 for her work “Jasmine/Never Sorry (for Ai Weiwei)” a light graffiti work. “Hannah” can also be seen in a more intimate setting at the Arvada Center, where Parkhill is part of the faces portion of the “Faces, Places, Spaces” exhibition.

My current work concentrates on glorifying snapshot imagery by altering and recreating it in acrylic paint to extrapolate the honesty found in snapshot portraits. It is my belief that true honest character is readily captured in candid digital photographs, and my attraction to such genuine expression has led me to create works that give importance to this imagery. I often recreate these images at a bold scale, and in hyperrealistic detail to bring forth a liveliness and sincerity. These images reveal an intimate moment in time that refuses to last, otherwise. I strive to bring forth a genuine, fleeting expression. My intention is that no image is posed, and that the final image is an elusive, real expression.