THE FEBRUARY SHOW

RAY DUKE

Boyd’s Station Gallery is proud to present The February Show, an exhibition featuring the multimedia and oil paintings of Harrison County artist and Boyd’s Station Artist Guild Creative Member, Ray Duke. A self-taught painter, Duke derives inspiration from what he sees through the lens of his camera and on the screen of his television. Duke’s second solo exhibition at the Boyd’s Station Gallery is curated with vibrant works that portray Carnaval in Mazatlán, Mexico, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, broadcast reporters from KET and NPR News Hour, horse racing at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, and more.

Duke’s work is on exhibition at the Boyd’s Station Gallery at 203 E. Pike Street, Cynthiana, Kentucky from February 1 through February 23, 2025. The opening reception for the exhibition will be hosted at Boyd’s Station Gallery on Saturday, February 1 from 6-9 p.m. and will include live music performed by Timothy Prewitt. Listen in to WCYN’s Coffee Break on Friday, January 31, 2025 when Duke will join show hosts for a conversation about his work and The February Show. Additionally, Duke will hold an Artist Talk at the Boyd’s Station Gallery at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2025. All events and gallery visits are always free and open to the public.

The February Show neither centers around a particular style nor a common subject. Duke is experimental in his approach, feeling that every time he sits down at the easel he is starting anew. What remains consistent is his draw to intriguing compositions that often involve human interactions. Duke recomposes photos that he has taken and captures scenes on the television to incorporate into his work.

Visitors are encouraged to engage with Duke’s largely human-centered work by creating the context in which his painted characters exist. His recent approach to portraiture is a style that he stumbled upon by selecting comparative tones, laying the oil paint in splotches, and revisiting the work to blend it out. The effect is depth without careful and precise shading. Negative space works in favor of the artist’s aim to give his characters depth and allow viewers the space to imbue the characters’ personalities without the influence of an artist statement or labels.

The public is invited to visit the Boyd’s Station Gallery located at 203 E. Pike Street, Cynthiana, Kentucky during normal gallery hours of Fridays, 4-7 pm, Saturdays, noon-6 pm and Sundays, noon-4 pm from Feb. 1 through Feb. 23 2025.

Groups interested in visiting during gallery off-hours may contact Boyd’s Station directly at bsag@boydsstation.com to inquire about scheduling a visit.