Tim Kent: Sojourn

Hollis Taggart is delighted to present _Tim Kent: Sojourn_, the artist's third solo exhibition with the gallery since joining its program in 2021. The exhibition will spotlight a dozen new works from Kent's studio and will be on view on the first floor of Hollis Taggart in Chelsea from September 10 to October 17, 2026, with an opening reception on Thursday, September 10 from 6 to 8 pm. Across the exhibition, the paintings privilege intervals of rest over events, suggesting that moments of pause possess their own emotional and perceptual complexity. Kent's figures inhabit suspended moments. Carefully calibrated color, softened edges, and measured compositions encourage sustained looking, allowing the experience to mirror the reflective and leisurely states depicted in the works. While informed by the legacy of historic French painting, Kent's practice addresses present concerns. At a moment defined by acceleration and constant connectivity, these paintings propose rest and slowness as a meaningful mode of attention – one that we all deserve. The fact that our contemporary culture resists such desires troubles even these tranquil settings. His previous works have drawn from the imagery and techniques of art history to depict psychologically charged spaces, while this body of work shows how a state of unease persists. Amidst the onslaught of information coming from every direction regarding every facet of life, moments of respite should provide the quietude that can cultivate the strength to carry on. _Sojourn_ inquires why that is so difficult.