ANTHONY MILER

Miler received his MFA from The City College of New York in 2008. During the initial stages of his career, he was influenced by CoBrA, the avant-garde artist group that was active in post-war Europe. He later created works, including portraits, using bold strokes similar to those of the neo-expressionists. In recent years, his style has undergone a further dramatic transformation. A motif that features a symbolic ‘eye’ has become the sole focus in terms of subject matter, and the works themselves are clean and meditative, created using Miler’s unique blend of liquid and powder pigments. In these works, a birdlike ‘eye’ floats against a fantastical background, their myriad variations providing a sense of narrative. In speaking about the forms in which this ‘eye’ that gazes straight ahead are set, Miler has commented that, ‘they are not necessarily birds. It’s not that I want to paint birds in particular, but I have long been fascinated by their evolution from ancient animals and by the beauty of their form. There is a stillness to the beautiful ‘birdlike’ forms in the resulting works, which quietly but powerfully draw the viewer in. The subdued colors, achieved through the application of the artist’s own blend of pigments on clear lines, give depth and nuance to the composition.

It can be said that Miler’s creative process is representative of his inner evolution, from a childhood spent with pencil in hand, absorbed in drawing, to trusting in himself without being swayed by the fashion of the times or the overflow of information around him. From his stance, one can observe his approach toward humility and simplicity, breaking free of a world that has become overcomplicated, paying no heed to the ‘noise’ that makes visible the immense egotism and greed of contemporary life, and continuing to explore his inner world.

Press Release: Courtesy of Masahiro Maki Gallery