Arvin Davis, Jr. "!!!Mayday!!!" in Gallery II

Join us for a Closing Reception on Friday, April 30th, from 7 - 8:30 PM

Arvin K. Davis Jr.  is 34 years old, a husband and father of 3

Arvin Davis Jr. is known for his use of bright colors, strong brush strokes, detailed line work, and paint and ink splatters; it’s a controlled chaos.

When it comes to inspiration, the sky's the limit; from past European masters, to the impressionism and expressionism movements of the early 1900s, surrealism, hyperrealism, imaginative realism; the list may never stop. But more than anything collaborating with his kids has become his inspiration.

He works in mixed media, predominantly: watercolors, inks, fluid acrylics, and standard acrylics.  At the start, either his children or he uses purposeful mistakes, the uncontrolled can add to and excite the imagination, picture starting out with a rough sketch then working it out smooth. Honing in on an idea, manipulating the idea until the rhythm is maximized. Nothing like palms and fingertips covered in pigment, no pair of pants free of marks, bliss.

 A self-taught artist, Arvin has created everything from concert flyers for touring acts, event posters, album artwork to traditional animation, moving into Illustrator and designing video games. “Why limit yourself? The more eclectic, more enjoyment."

The relinquish of control within the chaos allows him to further explore his overwhelming inner monologue as he gets sidetracked, becomes emotionally invested, but also relishes in the mode of creating even though from the outside in you may even ask him if he enjoys art. He does, he lives for it.

As a sufferer of PTSD, the art allows for him to make tangible the emotions, traumas, self-created pressure over something as irrelevant as being late. Artistic expression allows him to comfortably, and in safety, explore the mental darkness that holds him. The uncontrolled seems so lovely when a fear of losing control is ever present, exposure therapy.

His goals for the future involve a large-scale collaboration show/ oversized book. 50 visual artists and 50 literary artists, all unknowing of the topic or subject matter of the others. The advancement of the work all rests in the hands of the interpreter. The artists involved will be included from his local hometown Minot, North Dakota, coast to coast and international artists. He is also working diligently on a more community fueling non-profit program based upon the efforts that art, or creativity, isn’t just beneficial but crucial to maintaining quality mental health. The program’s focus will be on our growing youth, at little to no cost to those individuals. Providing quality art supplies, educational material, studies, studio time. Teaching the youth how therapeutic and empowering self-expression can be.    

Mesh Art Gallery - Morganton, NC - June 2010 - group exhibition - fundraiser event

62 Doors Gallery and Studios - Minot, ND - various dates through various group exhibitions

Honey's - Red Lodge, Montana - August 2018 and October 2019 - small group exhibit

Dacia Gallery Manhattan, New York City, New York -August 2018 - group exhibit

Northwest Art Gallery - March 2019-Merit Award received for "Customizable Perspective"

North Dakota Museum of Art - October 2019 - group exhibit - fundraiser event

Taube Museum of Art -May 2020 - solo exhibition