This show promises a brilliantly colorful and imaginative array of works, created by Handler in
his signature faux-na f style. Eye-catching characters pop out from each canvas, exploring
themes of relationships, emotion and empathy, with colorful forms and cosmic surroundings
giving the viewer a sense of otherworldliness.
Handler has earned his place as a steadily emerging artist, closely followed by collectors and
contemporary art enthusiasts on a global scale. Born in Queens New York in 1986, Adam was raised in
Long Island. As a child and teenager, he spent countless hours at his grandparents’ framing workshop in
New York City. Here, his passion for art grew and, at the age of 18, he made the decision to develop his
creative capabilities. He studied drawing in Italy and graduated from Purchase College in New York in
2008 with a specialization in art history.
Describing his artistic process as spontaneous, Handler acts on what inspires him in that moment,
playing with colors as they speak to him. Working in this manner gives way to feelings of freedom and
excitement, whereby wonderful surprises can reveal themselves at any point. His faux-naive style and
use of vivid colors are intended to convey emotion to the viewer, rather than to provoke reflection of the
work itself.
The exhibition’s title Love Land is inspired by a song entitled Loveland from German band Milky Chance
which discusses an intense love between two individuals. Similarly, Handler’s work often centers around
the idea of relationship and the pieces in this exhibition are no exception. The featured works will explore
the themes of love and relationships, some traditional others less-so. Through these depictions the
viewer is presented with the notion of unconventional love, highlighting the importance of accepting all
forms of love, no matter what this may look like. Above all, Handler hopes that the viewer will experience
an emotional connection with the piece they are looking at Whatever that connection is; either joy or
sadness, excitement or fear…I prefer authenticity of the emotion. Also, I would like people to take away
a new perspective on seeing things. As artists, our views of representation vary quite drastically and it’s
always refreshing when someone walks away with a fresh angle on the world.
The exhibition promisses an exciting evolution in Handler’s work as he introduces new subjects, allowing
them to interact with his already established characters such as the ghost and the girl. By using a
backdrop of outer-space and the cosmos for his subjects he confirms the uncertainties we all face; like
that of the unknown universe. For Handler, his paintings serve as a means of self-exploration, acting as
therapeutic tools through which he can examine his own psyche and anxieties.
The figures seen in Handler’s work were originally inspired by his wife, who he met while studying
drawing in Italy. Enthralled by her eyes, he began to draw representations of female figures with large
round eyes. His exploration of this subject varied and changed throughout the years, from figurative, to
abstract, setting in the faux-na f style he is known for today. He has also been heavily influenced by the
work of the abstract expressionist artist Willem DeKooning, specifically his disrupted representations of
the human form.
Speaking on his role as artist, Handler explains ‘My role as an artist is not only to bring joy to myself and
my family in the life I choose but, in my small existence in this world, to give a touch of joy, love, emotion
and everything else that’s authentic to the people who decide to stop their lives for a short moment and
just look. ‘