Louis Buhl & Co. is pleased to present the gallery’s first exhibition with Detroit-based artist Joshua Rainer, titled Amo Ergo Sum and opening January 11th at Louis Buhl & Co. A figurative and still life painter and draftsman, Rainer works mainly in oil paint and charcoal to investigate introspective themes that counterbalance the criticism of the world.
Employing themes of self-awareness and self-reflection, Rainer’s latest body of work meditates on the Bible passage, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Through this explicit reference, Rainer engages with foundational moral principles of community, compassion, and human responsibility, reflecting on how these ideals have been both upheld and neglected throughout history and in contemporary culture. By analyzing this Christian commandment as a phrase that inherently examines human relationships, Rainer’s paintings transcend religion, challenging both himself and his audience to deepen their awareness of the interplay between personal and societal ethics.
The hyperrealist paintings place a prominent focus on hands, a symbol of interaction, creation, and care. In Rainer’s work, they also evoke vulnerability and emphasize themes of unity and mutual recognition. As the artist explains, “I was thinking about the sense of touch: how it is fundamental to understanding the world around us and how we come to have a sense of who we are.” Interwoven with isolated overlays of religious figures, the subjects suggest a multifaceted narrative: they may depict individuals grappling with themselves, embracing others, or both. This intentional ambiguity is heightened by the symmetrical composition of the scenes, which, while drafted in proper perspective, could also indicate the presence of a reflection.
Supporting the latter notion, Rainer’s use of unconventionally shaped supports deepens the conceptual resonance of the paintings. The shapes, which enhance the parallelism of the subject matter, act as metaphors for self-recognition and interconnectedness, reinforcing the paintings’ central themes and disrupting habitual viewing patterns from the audience’s point of view. Simultaneously, they demonstrate Rainer’s commitment to pushing boundaries in his practice, placing importance on experimentation during his graduate studies at Cranbrook Academy of Art, where he is currently a second year painting student. Figurative painter Titus Kaphar’s innovative approach to his substrates, including his use of unconventional shapes and physical cutouts, is a significant influence that Rainer cites as having encouraged him to rethink the canvas as an integral element of art’s narrative and emotional impact.
Like the canvases, the monochromatic color palette selected for this series serves both conceptual and formal purposes. Ultramarine blue, a pigment which was once more valuable than gold before its synthetic production began in 1826, was historically reserved for religious and revered figures, such as the Virgin Mary, and thus is often associated with the divine or spiritual realms in Christian art and broader cultural symbolism. On a technical level, working with a limited color range enhances the level of detail that is possible to achieve, and also fosters a more direct connection between subject and viewer. All of these elements—inspiration, subject matter, narrative, form—work in tandem to further Rainer’s elementary exploration of how we relate to one another in the presence of mindfulness, and how this value has evolved over time.
Joshua Rainer: Amo Ergo Sum is on view from January 11 - March 8, 2025 at Louis Buhl & Co.