Juxtapoz Magazine - Ken Taylor Reynaga "Golden Hills" @ Shrine, NYC

"Sun-drenched mountains set against bright blue skies loom hazily in Ken Taylor Reynaga 's paintings. The artist's thickly painted canvases present landscapes and scenes that may look like an idyllic paradise at first glance, but which quickly register as something more complex and urgent. Like a mirage heralding a distant, blurry oasis, Reynaga conjures a tipsy feeling with paintings that are inviting, but also foreboding, as perspectives quickly shift and elements in the works are thrust in our direction."

"The sensation of existing somewhere nebulous, caught in the middle of two countries and cultures, leads Reynaga to feel like an outsider in both realms, but instead of lamenting it, he harnesses this angst and the raw emotions surrounding his love of family and countries, and converts them into a powerful fuel that drives his art practice and explorations of identity."

"In a singular and recurring motif, Reynaga tenderly portrays cowboys and farmers wearing disproportionately large 10-gallon hats that have grown oversized and now almost entirely engulf the wearers. The cartoon-like effect cleverly blurs the figures' identities, while also shielding them from the sun, as their labor necessitates. The giant adornments sometimes step closer to becoming full camouflage, morphing into rolling hills that mimic the mountains behind them. This nod towards resistance speaks of the many worlds Reynaga is juggling."

Ken Taylor Reynaga paints sun-drenched mountain landscapes under bright blue skies using thick impasto that at first appear idyllic but reveal complexity and urgency. The works create a mirage-like, tipsy sensation where shifting perspectives and forward-thrusting elements produce both invitation and foreboding. Mexican American heritage and Wild West mythology converge in topography and history that feel like two worlds, producing a nebulous, in-between identity. Reynaga channels feelings of outsiderhood, family love, and political anxieties into his practice. A recurring motif features cowboys and farmers wearing oversized 10-gallon hats that blur identities, shield laborers, and morph into hills, signaling resistance and cultural camouflage.

Read at Juxtapoz