In Past Show

Urban Revival at RJD Gallery

Frank Oriti paints blue-collar workers whose opportunities have run out. Primarily men whom the Cleveland-born artist grew up with, his subjects are individuals who attempted to escape their Midwestern suburban hometowns but, despite attending college or entering the military, ended up back where they started. Oriti depicts their moment of return, what he calls their “settling”. Standing against whitewashed backgrounds meant to evoke the uniformity of suburban housing, each subject appears weighted down, either by lack of opportunity or their own disappointment. Rather than look out toward the viewer, their weary expressions are withdrawn, as though they are being pulled backward in time.