You should never stare directly at the sun. Unless, of course, you are French-born artist Jean Claude Roy. In the late 1980s, Roy was painting en plein air when he looked upwards to admire the light-filled sky. When he glanced back to his canvas, a black, amorphous afterimage of the sun remained etched in his vision. Since then, Roy has always incorporated the blazing star into his “expressionist-colourist” landscapes, which he creates using oil paints and palette knives. In some scenes, the sun is a rich and buttery yellow. In others, the celestial body is flaming orange, crisp white, or even a light lavender. The artist’s subject matter is equally diverse, ranging from his native France to Newfoundland, Canada, where he now splits his time. Roy has also depicted cities in the Southeastern U.S., such as Savannah, Georgia, Augustine, Florida, and Asheville, where he was scheduled to present new work at the Grand Bohemian Gallery this November. However, because of extensive flooding in Biltmore Village, the artist will instead be attending a private dinner party at the Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville. As a Kessler Collection Signature Artist, Roy has spent the last few weeks visiting other hotels developed by entrepreneur Richard Kessler. A percentage of art sales from this tour will help individuals affected by Hurricane Helene.
2024 Jean Claude Roy Private Artist Dinner: Saturday, November 16, 6pm (reservations only)
Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville / 44 East Camperdown Way, Greenville, S.C. / exhibitionsbykessler.com