Entering an exhibition by the American artist Chase Hall feels like walking inside a family photo album. His painted figures—cowboys, tennis players, musicians—appear to have long histories with one another. But, all of Hall’s characters are entirely made up.
Their origins can be traced not to some charming small town, but to Hall's studios in Upstate New York and the East Village where he interrogates the relationships around him through characters rendered in acrylic. For the first time, these American archetypes have traveled to Vienna in Hall’s current exhibition at Galerie Eva Presenhuber (through July 19).
Titled “Momma’s Baby, Daddy’s Maybe,” the show is also his first since becoming a parent. This new role, Hall says, has prompted him to consider more carefully the ties that bind communities and families together. In his work, familiar techniques butt up against novel topics. Coffee stains and raw canvas are used to generate pieces like Mama Tried, which sees a gaggle of boys experimenting with punk aesthetics. Throughout the gallery, the nascent father seems to be graduating from reflecting on his own childhood to ruminating on the one he's charged with—or the impact of the former on the latter.
For artists, big questions such as these are best worked through in the haven of the studio, too. In CULTURED’s new Studio Frequencies column, Hall takes readers inside his, revealing the tools, team, and rituals that form the thrust of his evolution.
What’s on your studio playlist?
I have been coming back to a lot of Marvin Gaye.
What’s in your studio fridge?
Sparkling water, flat water, coconut water, orange juice, and beer.
What’s the weirdest tool you can’t live without?
A hand-held staple remover tool I purchased in Japan in 2018, or my espresso machine.
When do you do your best work?
The early morning.
Who’s the first person you show something to?
My wife Lauren [Rodriguez Hall] is really the only person I show things to.
Do you work with any assistants or do you work alone?
I have one assistant; her name is Kelsey, and she’s the best. Kelsey keeps the Upstate studio together. It's a bit of a handful at times, as I am in construction and not there full time.
There are a lot of costs that come with being an artist. Where do you splurge and where do you save?
Stretcher bars, paint, books, staples, and canvas rolls are always high in stock at my studio, so I don’t have to worry about running out and can experiment in a way that isn’t going to deter my day. I save by working ahead of schedule, so I don’t make rash decisions in the heat of the moment.
What was the last time you completely lost track of time while working?
If I am thinking about the time I am not truly present or giving it my all, which would mean [I need to] go handle whatever is taking [my] mind off the studio.
Have you ever destroyed a work to make something new?
It happens, but I’d rather shelve it and bring it back another day when I have a bit more stamina. But when you know it's gotta go. That's okay too.
If your studio were an animal, what would it be?
An elephant.
What’s your studio uniform?
Jeans, a white shirt, and one of the couple old sweaters that I have kept around for a while. Some days when I need a big studio day I go kinda wild with the outfit for a lil' extra horsepower.
Any rituals to prepare for a studio visit?
I like to read and do my homework on the person I am visiting with if possible, so I don’t spend half the time learning the meat and potatoes.
