Events and Openings
Kentucky Thoroughbred Horses, Riders and Race Scenes by Hagan McGee
April 21st-May 7th
Capacity Contemporary Exchange
Kentucky Folk Artist Hagan McGee (1927-2018) began creating paintings of his life growing up in the rural town of Manton, Kentucky when he retired after a long life of hard work.
In his twenty five years of retirement and up to his passing at the age of 90, he worked daily in his basement studio, making colorful paintings recalling his memories growing up in Manton.
In addition to detailed scenes of Kentucky rural life, Hagan made paintings of thoroughbred horses, riders and race scenes, based on his love of horses and his experiences as a young farm boy riding or working horses.
A true untrained Folk Artist, Hagan showed his work extensively in the Ohio Valley Region and can be found in many public and private collections, including Brown-Forman, The Kentucky Derby Museum, and the Kentucky Folk Art Center in Morehead, Kentucky.
A selection of Hagan McGee's work is on view in the gallery and on our website and Instagram @capacitycontemporary Visit us at 641 W. Main Street, in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.
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The Hideout:
Recent Paintings by Edmund Merricle
May 19th-June 18th
Public opening reception May 19th from 6-8 pm
Capacity Contemporary Exchange
Edmund's work is a reflection of his internal struggles and a journey towards understanding the language of painting and drawing.
He approaches each piece with an improvisational spirit, allowing the shapes and forms to develop organically from previous works, then disrupted and reassembled. This process allows him to explore the relationship between perception and abstraction, and the tension between chaos and order.
The images and marks are layered with multiple meanings, and the figures, animals, or heads in his work are connected to himself but are not intended to be self-portraits. Instead, they represent the universal human experience of uncertainty and vulnerability.
The artist's anxious sensibilities inform his process, as he moves paint around the canvas, scrapes, and layers, constantly revisiting and revising his decisions. This creates a sense of restlessness
in his work, reflecting the constant push and pull of life.
Edmund earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio and his MFA from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Edmund lives and works in Dayton, Ohio.

Gallery & Market Hours
Wednesday - Friday
Saturday
Sunday
11:00 am – 5:00 pm
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm