Tim Portlock‘s new digital prints, made using 3D animation and gaming software, are influenced by the American sublime landscape painting tradition, he says. That makes sense if you know that the artist comes from a painting background, where he painted beautiful landscapes, including some murals in Chicago. Portlock’s new works — which go on exhibit at Vox Populi Gallery this Friday (he is a member) — are indeed painterly, although they are not make with paint. What they look like are birds-eye views of depopulated urban scenes of Philadelphia and other cities. Working from photographs that he takes, Portlock builds up his cities from scratch. In his new world order, there are no people in evidence because the artist would rather have you insert yourself into the work. While he is raising issues about wealth, poverty, and the sad state of American cities, his work is sly and not overtly political. We interviewed Tim at his home/studio
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