Exhibition

Davariz Broaden
One to Remember
July 8 - September 6, 2023

Featured Artwork

Louis Buhl & Co. is pleased to present an exhibition with Davariz Broaden titled One to Remember. Self-taught, Broaden is a Detroit-based artist whose paintings distill a soft essence and highlight the importance of love and beauty within the Black community, as well as nostalgic events in the Black experience. The loose brushwork that results from his composite use of acrylic and oil paint exudes a warm energy that manifests itself onto the viewer with ease. 

At the heart of Broaden’s practice is a celebration: of his love for painting, of his ability to create freely, of the greater sense of self that comes with age. In One to Remember, this concept is emphasized thematically: signifiers of summer gatherings such as bounce houses, picnic tables and casual dress indicate the happening of a neighborhood birthday party. Often, Broaden’s figures are rendered in action or at rest, —dancing, playing sports, reposing, exploring—consumed in a moment of joy and ignorant of their audience. In contrast, the exhibited figures—men and women of all ages—direct their gazes outward. It appears as if they are pausing their conversations and play to pose for a photograph captured by the observer, uniquely immersing the viewer into the pictorial space. Broaden’s works are culled from a mix of imagination, memory and photo references, and with this approach towards his figures’ postures, he alludes to the value society attaches to birthdays as moments to cherish for a lifetime, and therefore our tendency to surpassingly document and memorialize these occasions. The like color palettes amongst the paintings and the illustrated greenery that floods their backgrounds suggests that each work is part of one comprehensive scene, fostering intended feelings of connection and belonging. 

Commemorating the act of growing older, Broaden considers the cyclical nature of existence and importance of cherishing each moment. In an expression of gratitude, he explains how “[he] wanted to create a body of work that authentically merges history and the present time with the significance of celebrating life, and [promotes] the idea that the people around us are what makes life worth living.” The paintings have prompted Broaden to reflect on his accomplishments, development, and aspirations. By willfully neglecting to designate one figure as the gathering’s honored individual, Broaden encourages the same act of introspection amongst his audience, lending to his objective of not only honoring his own journey but those of his friends, family and greater community. 

Davariz Broaden: One to Remember is on view from July 8th through September 6th, 2023 at Louis Buhl & Co.

Paintings

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