Mr. Justin Williams introduces us to a planar perspective with idyllic ideas with his Synonym opening at Roberts Projects. The anthropocentrism in each of the proudly large canvases provides us with that visibility on what would otherwise be considered bromidic or insipid; nothing that aims at attempting to breach the surreal or imaginatively transcendent. Yet, beauty does not need to rely upon such outstretched aims which can breach the vain. And Mr. Williams affirms this with his splendid artwork.

French artist and friend Edgar Sarin, one day you will arrive in Santa Fe, 2024. Justin WIlliams. Acrylic, oil and raw pigment on canvas. 75.5 x 64.75 in (191.8 x 164.5 cm). Courtesy of the artist and Roberts Gallery. Copyright Justin Williams.

The eclectic blend of paints are used originally in each of the compositions, giving us not simply an originality in some of the eccentric yet placid portrayals, but also in the representation of each of the figures. “French artist and friend Edgar Sarin, one day you will arrive in Santa Fe” (2024) presents to us a horse with a fun peppering of oils. These and other visual ideas do not blemish in their attempts at originality; and there is a question as to whether this involves the planar representation which is so intimately necessary in each of the artworks.

I had dreams about you David after you left, 2024. Justin Williams.
Acrylic, oil and raw pigment on canvas
75.25 x 64.25 in (191.1 x 163.2 cm). Courtesy of Justin Williams and Roberts Gallery. Copyright Justin WIlliams.

The positioning of ocean horizons, landscape backgrounds, and a delectable posse moves the appearance which is not haphazard or just plain sloppy in its representations. There is subtlely each of the compositions, which complements well the centered color tones; truly the difficulty in the works which Mr. Williams succeeds at. There is also no inhibition in the use of paint tools to scrape, signifying while an absence of visceral texture, a choice to play with the paints which is nevertheless well-restrained by the compositional narratives.

The Belgrave wizard – Baba Desi, 2024. Justin Williams.
Acrylic, oil and raw pigment on canvas
48 x 36 in (121.9 x 91.4 cm). Courtesy of Justin Williams and Roberts Gallery. Copyright Justin WIlliams.

And the narratives themselves are enjoyable. Though not zany, there is certainly eccentricity, in, say, Major Arcana, death watching over Jade, (2024) and The Belgrave wizard – Baba Desi, (2024). It is in the limits imposed upon those impressions which is the difficult balance; for it is convenient to smatter the canvases with bright oranges, blues, yellows, as opposed to remaining steadfast in a, perhaps muted scintillation of what is beautiful. That, indeed, to move beauty towards that right-minded softening is right-action by the fine artist. And this is accorded comprehensively in the show.

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