A retrospective exhibition honoring the late Cincinnati self-taught artist Anthony “Tony” Dotson will open May 8 at AGAR’s Sample Space gallery at 8 E. 4th Street in downtown Cincinnati. “Tony Dotson: A Retrospective” will present nearly 100 works available for viewing and purchase, offering an overview of a career that produced close to 5,000 pieces and was shown in more than 100 exhibitions across the United States.

Dotson, born April 14, 1971, spent 15 years managing Cincinnati music venues including Bogart’s, the Taft Theatre and Riverbend before turning to art full-time. His practice centered on bold house paint applied to wood, combined with mixed media assemblages incorporating toys, blocks, rulers and found objects. Recurring subjects included Batman, Bigfoot and King Kong. His work drew influence from self-taught artists Mose Tolliver and R.A. Miller as well as from the graphic work of Keith Haring.

“Tony and I were friends for over 20 years, and we were competitive artists right from the start,” said gallery curator Andrew VanSickle. “Tony had a rare ability to distill complex ideas into simple brilliance, turning them into bold color fields and expressive lines. This retrospective brings his artistic power fully into view and stands as one of the most anticipated exhibitions in Cincinnati this year.”

The exhibition is presented by AGAR, a Cincinnati gallery that supports self-taught and outsider artists. Sample Space is located at 8 E. 4th Street, Cincinnati. For more information, visit theagar.com.

Source: Cincinnati CityBeat