ASTORIA — Direct from Berlin, local favorite Nicholas Knapton delivers a new collection of still life and abstract oil paintings. Knapton, who grew up in Astoria and began his art studies at Clatsop Community College under the tutelage of Royal Nebeker and Richard Rowland, now resides in Berlin where he enjoys the opportunity to exhibit his work to a global audience.  

His direct and edgy style is dark, moody and sensuous, reflecting years of immersion in the work of the great German expressionists. “Flowers for Clementine” opens during Astoria’s Second Saturday Art Walk, from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, and will remain on display through Feb. 10.

Knapton, a committed painter and printmaker, has for years maintained a foothold in two distinctive art communities. Balancing a career that regularly takes him across the globe, he has exhibited his work for years in his hometown of Astoria, as well as Portland and reaching to the other side of the Atlantic, to Berlin, Paris, Estonia and other European art houses. This dual career is what inspires Knapton, participating in an epicenter to creative thought while also bringing it back home to a quieter village lifestyle.

It’s these quieter times, in a more rural setting that gives him space to contemplate his broader experiences, shaping and defining his focus. His experience in both communities translates to a bold painterly style where both dynamic layers of energy and spontaneity find spaces of open calm and contemplative use of color.

Knapton is quick to point out the benefits and drawbacks of being from a small coastal community and how that has helped him move to one of the world’s most important urban dwellings. When talking about being from Astoria and stereotypes, he states: “When one approaches Astoria from the east, one sees it as the last outpost of Western civilization, nestled way far out on the absolute fringes. One could never imagine Astoria as representing any type of culture, on the contrary, deeming its inhabitants as ‘backwoods hicks.’

“When one approaches Astoria from the west (Pacific Ocean) one sees Astoria as their first example of western thought, culture and art, one’s first glimpse of Rome, if you will. Personally I like to see it as the latter, the absolute jewel of a vast empire stretching to the most eastern reaches of western civilization.”

Specific to this new body of work, which was created in Berlin and shipped to Astoria, Knapton explores both the narrative of still life as well as his ever powerful abstractions. Regarding the floral imagery for this exhibition Knapton took great inspiration from a specific painting that was given to him years ago, he states “A very special person gave me a painting once which she called, ‘Even In The Darkness There Is Light.’ It was a painting of a flower in a vase with a dark blue background and in the corner, light was shining down on the flower, enunciating its presence. I thought it to be such a wonderful painting that I painted a series of paintings inspired by it, comprised of the single object in the dark being showered by light to make that object noticeably stand out. Maybe it is even symbolic of the person making the painting. Her painting and mine.”

Knapton’s flexibility in lifestyle has allowed him experiences few would encounter. After finishing studies at Clatsop Community College, Knapton headed to Portland where he attended Portland State University studying under Northwest notables such as Mel Katz, Linda Wysong and Susan Harlan. With a strong core of knowledge, Knapton jumped into the then-burgeoning Berlin art scene that ensued after the fall of the Berlin Wall, paving the way for German reunification. While in Europe he assisted with restoration of the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, London, and participated in the Wrapped-Reichstag project by famed installation artists Christo and Jeanne Claude in Berlin. Back home, his figurative work has been juried into the annual “Au Naturel” international juried exhibition four times, including winning a purchase prize in 2006. He has participated in multiple group shows in Portland as well as maintained a steady presence on the streets of Astoria.

Imogen Gallery is located at 240 11th St. For more information about Imogen Gallery or its represented artists please call 503-468-0620 or stop by in person to enjoy the collection. Imogen Gallery can also be found on Facebook or at www.imogengallery.com