This exhibition reflects a significant change in Mark Horton’s paintings, specifically in subject matter. Known for his interest fictional cityscapes, Horton uses more recognizable icons for the downtown images in this show: Minneapolis at twilight, with the IDS Center and Capella Tower anchoring the skyline, squares and slits of light defining their unique shapes; a bicyclist pausing at a downtown Minneapolis corner, backlit by the midday sun, the Twins baseball stadium in the distance.

In addition to urban landscapes, this show also includes images from the artist’s daily life: his studio with colorful rows of brushes and paint; the family living room, with a piano and bookcase; his favorite record store, corner diner and coffee shop. Populated by people and composed from a ground-level perspective, Horton sets aside the birds-eye view of cityscapes for these more intimate scenes of Midwestern life. Though they represent real places, they engage the viewer in a familiar manner, creating a universal narrative of daily life in nearly any city.