IN PRAISE OF IDLENESS
LEE WELCH
18 APRIL - 5 MAY 2024
PALLAS PROJECTS/STUDIOS
“... the road to happiness and prosperity lies in an organized diminution of work.”
— Bertrand Russell
EXPLORE THE EXHIBITION
Pallas Projects/Studios are pleased to present Lee Welch—In Praise of Idleness, the second exhibition of our 2024 Artist-Initiated Projects programme.
In Praise of Idleness invites viewers to explore the nuanced intersections of idleness, introspection, emotion and the complexities of the human condition. Inspired by Bertrand Russell's seminal essay of the same name, published in 1932, Welch's collection of new paintings and works on paper offers a compelling exploration of the significance of leisure in contemporary society. Drawing upon Russell's advocacy for the reevaluation of societal attitudes towards work.
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Boredom is an emptiness filled with insistence
2024
acrylic on canvas
25 x 20 cm -
Fog has covered everything
2024
acrylic on linen
109 x 80 cm -
It’s an interesting question
2024
acrylic on canvas
50 x 40 cm
Welch's evocative paintings capture moments of quietude and contemplation, offering viewers a glimpse into the innermost workings of the human psyche. From the tender vulnerability of David Foster Wallace to the enigmatic gaze of Samia Halaby, each canvas serves as a window into the complexities of the human experience, inviting viewers to reflect on the universal truths that bind us all together.
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infinite jest
2024
watercolour on paper
45 x 36 cm framed -
Novak Djokovic reading the NY Times
2024
acrylic on linen
64.5 x 50 cm
“The wise use of leisure ... is a product of civilization and education.”
— Bertrand Russell
Drawing inspiration from an eclectic array of influences, including literature, history, and tennis, Welch's work transcends traditional artistic boundaries, offering a fresh perspective on timeless themes of beauty, desire, and the passage of time. Through his meticulous attention to detail and keen sensitivity to emotion, Welch creates a body of work that offers a profound meditation on the essence of being, inviting viewers to explore the depths of human emotion and experience.
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If I were a comet
2024
acrylic on canvas
30 x 25 cm -
Fog has covered everything night painting
2024
acrylic on linen
108 x 80 cm -
so imperceptible has it become
2024
acrylic on canvas
25.5 x 20.5 cm
Sat 5 May, 5 - 6 pm
IN CONVERSATION: LEE WELCH AND PÁDRAIC E. MOORE
On the occasion of the exhibition, please join us for a conversation between artist Lee Welch and curator and writer, curator Pádraic E. Moore.
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a mystery that is essential to reality
2024
watercolour on paper
45 x 36 cm framed -
January interior
2024
acrylic on mover’s blanket
50 x 40 cm
Installation views
On 18th April; 2024 at 18:00 (GMT), Pallas Projects/Studios will release a time-limited edition* Archival Pigment Print, Something has to change. The edition will be available to all for 3 weeks only until 18:00 (GMT) on 5 May 2024.
*A time-limited edition refers to an edition of prints or artworks that are available for purchase only within a specific time frame.
Once the time window has closed, no more copies are produced, adding an element of exclusivity and urgency to the edition. Time-limited editions are often used for promotional events or to commemorate specific occasions. The scarcity induced by the time limitation can add value to the artwork, making it more desirable to collectors.
Something has to change, 2024
Archival Pigment Print onto Canson Edition Etching Rag 310 gsm
49.2 x 37.6 cm / 19.4 x 14.8 in framed
€150
In Conversation: Lee Welch and Caren Sullivan
In this candid conversation, artist Lee Welch talks to Caren Sullivan from the intimate space of his home studio, diving deep into his mind.
ON VIEW IN PALLAS PROJECTS/STUDIOS
The gallery is open Thursday–Saturday, 12 – 6 pm. Please visit our location page to plan your visit.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
LEE WELCH
Welch creates gestural, atmospheric paintings that attest to the psychical and emotional depths of his chosen subjects and map out delicate negotiations between beauty, desire, and the painted image. Depicting figures from his own milieu, as well as from history, literature, music, and tennis, Welch finds feeling in that which he depicts, always rendered with the intensity of his particular humanism; a close looking akin to love. In each subject’s specificity, the artist reveals the universal feelings that connect us to each other, and that stretch from our present moment back through time.
Follow our journey.