Of these paintings, the artist writes: In the sparsely furnished interior spaces, the presence of inhabitants is implied through the inclusion of house plants and other objects as well as the palpable sense of an embodied viewpoint. Someone dwells here with the simple task of caring for the plants, contemplating the objects, and bearing witness to the passing light. The exterior spaces, seen through open windows, hint at the familiar patterned order of the built environment and its relationship with nature while also allow an escape toward reverie. My intention with this work is to create a quiet and acute space of contemplation that hints at the world that breathes behind things.

Over the years, Banning’s oil paintings and drawings have been shown in solo exhibitions across the country, including Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, and New York. After ten years of teaching art at colleges throughout the Midwest, Banning and his wife, artist Melanie Pankau, returned to Minneapolis in 2016. Banning now teaches drawing in the Fine Art Department at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design.

The artist will be present at the opening reception Saturday, April 29th from 2-5 pm. The opening reception and exhibition runs concurrently with Chroma by Charles Lyon. Both shows continue through June 3, 2017.