American Abstract painter Todd Williamson probes society’s hyper-focus on power, wealth and influence” today. California ‘Dreamin’ at the Museum of Art and Cars in Singen Germany calls for reflection on what role power and influence play in shaping contemporary society and questions to whom we cede power and influence over our daily lives. 

For California ‘Dreamin’sweeping artworks representing influential figures, celebrities and power brokers hang next to depictions of the world’s most iconic vanity license plates such as F1, 1, 250, VIP 1, which were purchased individually at excessively large price tags. The exhibition invites reflection on what we value as a society and whether we’ve lost our sense of reasoning . “Are we  paying close enough attention to the social and political changes occurring around us?  “Are we handing power to the next saint or to a tyrant? Williamson asks.

California Dreamin’ comes on the heels of Williamson’s thought-provoking exhibition, “Processional”, an official selection for a collateral event of the 58th Venice Biennale. At MAC Williamson's  large scale paintings use color, movement and mysticism depicted in images of swords to imagine the emotional traits and personalities of well-known celebrities and power brokers, juxtaposed against images of the world’s most expensive vanity license plates which serve as the catalysts to probe why.  How can a lowly license plate represent so much to someone that they are willing to pay insanely vast sums of money to acquire it?

To further stimulate the visitor’s experience, Williamson has collaborated with Professor Greg Walter, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, who developed a harmonic Nocturne that exemplifies emotions, chaos and repetition of the exhibition.  California ‘Dreamin opens October 31, 2019 at the MAC Museum of Art and Cars with opening reception 6-9 pm. 

Todd Williamson (b. 1964) is a contemporary artist who has lived and worked in Los Angeles for the past 30 years.  He received his BA from Belmont University in Nashville (‘88)  Williamson is the 2019 “Prize for Creativity” award winner from the Pollock Krasner Foundation (NY) becoming only the 3rd artist to have been presented this very special award.  He has done residencies at the American Academy in Rome, the PAN Museum/Art 1307 in Naples Italy, Greece, Berlin, and Shanghai and Louise Bourgeois’ Artist Salon.  His work is collected in some of the top collections worldwide.  #ToddWilliamson #CaliforniaDreamin #MACmuseum #PremiumModernArt.